Digital Dangers: Protecting Teens in an Age of AI and Online Exploitation

Parenting Strategies and SupportThe Therapeutic ProcessResource Recommendations
Written By Jennifer Benson

If you're a parent of a teenager, you need to read this. The digital landscape our kids are navigating is more dangerous than ever.

The AI Threat: Fake Nudes and Sexual Exploitation

This is one of the most disturbing trends I've seen in adolescent mental health, and it highlights how unprepared we are as a society to handle the intersection of AI technology and teenage development.

The creation and distribution of AI-generated fake nude images of classmates isn't just cyberbullying. It's sexual exploitation with devastating, long-lasting consequences, including trauma, humiliation, and psychological harm that can persist for years.

Recently, there has been extensive media coverage of this. A recent New York Times article reported on a teenage boy who circulated fake nude images of girls from his school dance using an AI app designed to automatically "strip" clothed photos. Just a few days ago, The Wall St. Journal reported on this, too.

Beware, deep fake pornography apps like, ClothesOff exist, and are at your kids’ fingertips.

Who Are The Victims Here?

The answer is both the victim and the perpetrator, and their extended families, who have to contend with the shame, financial burden associated with potential legal fees, and overall angst.

While my go to is empathize for the victimized girls, I also recognize that all are victims in this scenario. we must recognize that the boy is also a victim of a digital landscape that has normalized such behavior.

These are kids whose moral development is happening where AI apps designed to "strip" photos are marketed as entertainment, where the line between real and fake has been erased.

A teen who creates and distributes these images faces potential criminal charges, sex offender registration, and a permanently damaged future. But we have to ask: where were the guardrails? Why do these apps exist? Why is this technology accessible to children?

Both teens involved need support. Victims need trauma-informed care, validation, and advocacy. Perpetrators need accountability, yes, but also education about consent, digital ethics, and the real-world harm their actions cause.

We've created a toxic digital environment and handed it to adolescents whose brains aren't fully developed, whose understanding of consequences is still forming, and whose moral compass is being shaped by algorithms designed for engagement, as opposed to ethics.

Beyond Fake Nudes: Other Digital Dangers

AI-generated fake nudes represent just one threat. Here are the others parents need to know about:

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment - Beyond mean comments, teens face coordinated harassment campaigns, doxxing, impersonation accounts, and public humiliation through screenshots shared across platforms. The permanence of online content means a single moment can follow them for years.

Sextortion - Someone threatens to share intimate images unless the victim provides more explicit content, money, or other demands. Many teens don't report it because they're ashamed or afraid of getting in trouble.

Online Predators and Grooming - Predators use gaming platforms, social media, and messaging apps to establish relationships, gradually normalizing inappropriate conversations. They often pose as peers, using AI-generated photos to appear legitimate.

Social Media Addiction - Platforms are designed to be addictive. The average teen spends 3.5 hours daily on social media, displacing sleep, physical activity, and face-to-face interaction. The constant comparison and pressure contribute to anxiety and depression.

Pornography Exposure - Easy access to pornography is shaping teens' understanding of sex, relationships, and consent in harmful ways. Early and frequent exposure is linked to unrealistic expectations, objectification, and difficulty forming healthy intimate relationships. Many teens stumble upon pornography accidentally, then find it difficult to stop due to its addictive nature.

Gaming Addiction - While gaming itself isn't inherently harmful, excessive gaming can become a genuine addiction. Warning signs include gaming taking priority over school, sleep, and relationships; withdrawal symptoms when not gaming; lying about time spent gaming; and using games to escape negative emotions. Gaming addiction is now recognized as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization.

Harmful Content - Teens are exposed to content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. Algorithms amplify it because engagement drives profit. Once they view this content, they're served more of it.

Privacy Violations - Most teens don't understand how much personal information they're sharing. Location data, browsing history, and "private" messages create digital footprints that can be exploited.

Scams - Teens fall victim to fake job offers, cryptocurrency schemes, and phishing attempts. Their inexperience and immaturity makes them vulnerable targets.

What Parents Can Do

The scope of digital dangers can feel overwhelming, but parents do have ways of protecting their children:

Stay Informed and Have Open Conversations

Learn about the online platforms your teen uses. Ask them to show you how the apps work. We encourage you to express curiosity, and not judgment when viewing these. Please prioritize making digital safety an ongoing conversation, not a one-time talk.

It’s also important to create a judgment-free space where your teen feels comfortable coming to you if something troubling happens online. Many teens don't report problems to their parents because they fear their parents will remove take their devices away.

Talk specifically about what to do if someone asks for personal information or photos, how to recognize manipulation, the permanence of online content, and the legal consequences of sharing explicit images.

Set Clear Boundaries

Establish family rules:

  • No phones in bedrooms at night

  • Screen-free times (dinner, family activities)

  • Expectations about allowed apps and platforms

  • Requirements for parental access to accounts (age-appropriate)

Communicate that your efforts to monitor their technology is not about your lack of trust; alternatively, it's about their safety.

Use Tools and Model Good Behavior

Use age-appropriate parental controls and monitoring tools. The goal isn't to read every message, but to catch red flags.

Your relationship with technology matters. If you're constantly on your phone, you are sending the message to your teen that it’s ok for them to be on theirs, too. Be mindful to model healthy boundaries and thoughtful posting. You’re child is watching what you do.

Teach Critical Thinking

Help your teen develop skills to evaluate information and recognize manipulation. Discuss how algorithms work, why they see certain content, how photos can be manipulated, and the business model of social media (their attention is the product).

Connect with Other Parents

Stay connected with parents of your teen's peers. Share information with them about the apps your child is using, the communication they have with their peer, and your concerns.. When multiple families share and maintain similar standards, it reduces the "everyone else gets to" argument.

Watch for Warning Signs

Be alert to changes:

  • Sudden secrecy about device use

  • Emotional reactions to notifications

  • Withdrawal from family and friends

  • Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood

  • Declining academic performance

  • New online "friends" they haven't met in person

Know When to Seek Help

If your teen has been victimized online (through fake nudes, sextortion, cyberbullying, or contact with predators), please get professional help immediately. Contact local law enforcement, alert school administrators, and seek mental health support. Their are experts in this space, including Michelle Gourley, who works with youth on both sides of these issues, the victims and the perpetrators. She's been a tireless advocate and educator for professionals like me, helping us understand the complexities of these cases and how to provide effective support.

Advocate for Systemic Change

Individual action isn't enough. We need:

  • Tech companies held accountable for creating apps that enable exploitation

  • Schools providing comprehensive digital citizenship education beyond "be nice online"

  • Support for parents who feel overwhelmed and underprepared

  • Mental health professionals trained in digital exploitation trauma

  • Legislative action to protect children and hold companies accountable

Additional Resources

If your teen has been victimized:

If your teen is being extorted:

  • Contact local law enforcement immediately

  • FBI tips: tips.fbi.gov

  • Do not send money or additional images

For mental health support:

  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

  • Contact a mental health professional

  • Contact Crossbridge Consulting

For parents:

Jennifer Benson
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