A new report by Girlguiding reveals that over 25% of teenagers have seen sexually explicit deepfakes featuring celebrities, friends, or teachers online. The research also highlights the prevalence of misogynistic content and sexual threats faced by young people on social media.
More than a quarter of teenagers have encountered sexually explicit deepfakes involving celebrities, friends, or teachers online, according to a new report. Girlguiding's poll of 2,000 young people aged 13 to 18 revealed that 26 percent had viewed this type of content. Deepfakes are images or videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) using the faces of real individuals.
Numerous celebrities have fallen victim to deepfake pranks, with their likenesses being superimposed onto pornographic material. The report highlights the growing concern of deepfakes as a recent danger for teenagers navigating the online world. It emphasizes the difficulty young people face in distinguishing between authentic content and AI-generated material. Girlguiding urges the government to empower schools and colleges to provide more comprehensive education on this issue. Beyond deepfakes, the research revealed a disturbing prevalence of online harassment and misogyny. 12 percent of respondents reported witnessing sexual threats, including those of rape, directed at women and girls online. Additionally, 27 percent encountered misogynistic comments on social media posts. Shockingly, 13 percent of teenage girls received sexual threats online, while 26 percent experienced the spread of rumors about their sexual behavior. The report underscores the pervasiveness of harmful content, with 34 percent of respondents stating that it made them feel unsafe. Furthermore, 32 percent expressed reluctance to report such content to their parents. The study also revealed that 66 percent of boys had encountered content from self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate on social media, with 60 percent discovering it through algorithms and 36 percent through school friends. Angela Salt, chief executive of Girlguiding, commented on the findings, stating, 'This shocking research sheds light on the disturbing reality girls face online, from misogynistic comments to threats of sexual violence.' She emphasized that both girls and boys are regularly exposed to harmful content, whether through social media algorithms or school networks. Salt called on social media companies to take greater responsibility in addressing this hateful content. The report comes amidst the ongoing debate surrounding mobile phone use in schools. While the Conservative Party proposed an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ban mobile phones in educational settings, the government argued that existing guidance was sufficient. Last year, teachers reported a surge in misogynistic content within classrooms. The National Education Union (NEU) acknowledged the 'real challenge' posed by 'online sexism, misogyny, and bullying' in promoting gender equality in schools. The union cited an increase in sexual assaults on schoolgirls by male peers, attributing it to the easy access to extreme content and 'aggressive hardcore pornography.
Deepfakes Sexual Harassment Misogyny Online Safety Teenagers Social Media
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