More teens are using generative AI to make explicit content. What parents should know about it
More Teens Are Using Generative AI for Explicit Content: What Parents Need to Know
Healfromzero.com – More teens are using generative AI to create and share sexual content online, according to new research from Common Sense Media. The findings reveal that nearly 75% of teenagers have encountered online pornography, with more than half seeing this content as early as age 12. A survey of over 1,300 teens aged 13 to 17 found that almost half reported viewing sexual material they believed was AI-generated.
Understanding AI-Generated Sexual Content
Content created with generative AI tools encompasses fake nude images, videos, deepfakes, and nudification app outputs. These platforms enable users to generate images depicting people as undressed. While teen exposure to sexual content has remained relatively stable since Common Sense Media’s 2023 report, access patterns have shifted dramatically over the past three years.
“What we’re talking about is not ‘commercial or curated pornography.’ We’re talking about things that are removing the agency and stripping people of their ability to control their image,” said Dr. Supreet Mann, lead study author and director of research at Common Sense Media.
More teens are using generative AI tools to create content, and nearly 20% of survey participants have either made AI-generated sexual content themselves or know someone who has. Over half of these teens reported that the content depicted people they knew. Nudification apps have made it easier for teenagers to encounter sexual images of their peers, not just celebrities.
Among the 44% of teens who viewed AI-generated sexual content, 15% discovered it through AI apps that create or modify photos and videos. Riana Pfefferkorn, a policy fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, noted that app stores often struggle to keep pace with these applications.
“There’s plenty of research showing that the ‘whack-a-mole’ job that app stores and social media platforms are doing hasn’t really been enough to keep up,” said Pfefferkorn, who was not involved in the new research.
More teens are using generative AI for various purposes, and many are reconsidering their social media presence. Almost 70% of teenagers expressed concern about becoming victims of AI-generated sexual content without consent. Many responded by adjusting their posting habits, making accounts private, or deleting them entirely.
Dr. Mann observed that while teens are taking protective measures, this trend may reinforce victim blaming. “Why is the burden on the young people to be changing their own behaviors because of fear of other people’s actions?” she questioned. The accessibility of this content is also influencing teenagers’ views on sex, consent, and body image.
Impact on Teen Development and Parental Guidance
Nearly 70% of teens believe AI-generated sexual content affects their perception of ideal body appearance. This concern is particularly significant given that adolescence is a period of rapid physical development. “It’s impacting the ways that young people are thinking about really important foundational elements of the teen experience, like consent and romantic relationships,” Mann explained.
More than one-third of teenagers want to discuss AI-generated sexual content with adults but feel uncertain about where to start. Common Sense Media recommends that parents and guardians initiate supportive conversations centered on consent, health, and sexual identity before addressing the technological aspects.
The research indicated that younger teens felt more comfortable discussing these topics with their parents compared to older teenagers. Starting these dialogues early can help raise awareness about AI-generated sexual content as technology continues to evolve. Parents should engage in open, ongoing conversations rather than relying on single discussions to address this growing concern.