Teen deepfake sexual abuse: AI involved in 1 in 4 Cases, study finds

A new nationally representative Australian study of 1,894 adolescents aged 16 to 18 found that AI was involved in 26% of cases where sexual images were shared without consent. The findings highlight how AI is changing image-based abuse: with deepfakes and AI-generated images, a teenager can be targeted even if they have never created or shared an intimate photo.

The researchers uncovered another concerning trend. Teens who experienced online sexual victimisation were more likely to tell an AI chatbot what had happened than to disclose it to an authority, such as a teacher, police officer, counsellor or reporting service.

Key takeaways:

• Researchers surveyed 1,894 Australians aged 16 to 18 about experiences that occurred before age 18.
• Nearly 1 in 6 (14.9%) had experienced at least one of the two forms of online sexual victimisation measured in the study.
• Among teens whose sexual images had been shared without consent, 26% said AI was involved.
• Boys were significantly more likely than girls to report AI involvement in their online sexual victimisation.
• Among those who experienced online sexual victimisation, 18.7% disclosed it to AI, compared with 13.2% who disclosed to an authority.
• Of those who disclosed their experience to AI, only 18.9% also told another person.
• The findings reinforce how important it is for parents to make it safe for teenagers to ask for help without fearing blame, punishment or immediately losing access to their devices.

How AI is changing online sexual abuse targeting teens

The study, conducted by researchers from Adelaide University and Queensland University of Technology in collaboration with ICMEC Australia and other child protection stakeholders, surveyed Australian adolescents between March and April 2026.

Researchers focused on two forms of online child sexual victimisation: sexual images being shared without the young person's consent and online sexual solicitation by an adult. Overall, 14.9% of participants said they had experienced at least one of these before turning 18. Girls reported higher levels of online sexual victimisation overall: 18.9%, compared with 10.6% of boys.

AI, however, appears to be changing that picture.

Among young people who had experienced online sexual victimisation, 14.9% said AI had been involved. When researchers looked specifically at non-consensual sharing of sexual images, that figure rose to 26%, roughly one in four cases.

AI involvement could include generating or manipulating images, generating or changing voices, or using generative AI tools as part of the abuse.

Researchers note that their estimates may actually be conservative. Participants who weren't sure whether AI had been involved were not counted as AI-related cases, meaning the true level of AI involvement could be higher.

Deepfakes also change the conversation parents need to have with teens. Talking about sexting, consent and the risks of sharing intimate images still matters, but "don't send nudes" is no longer enough. AI tools can turn an ordinary photo into fake sexual imagery without the person's knowledge or consent. That means conversations should also cover what to do if someone creates or shares a sexual deepfake, and make clear that the person depicted is not responsible for someone else's decision to create or distribute it.

When AI was involved, boys were more likely to be affected

One of the more surprising findings concerns gender. Girls were considerably more likely to experience online sexual victimisation overall. But when AI was involved, the pattern reversed.

Among teens who had experienced online sexual victimisation, 26.6% of boys reported that AI had been involved, compared with 9% of girls.

The difference was even larger for non-consensual sexual image sharing involving AI: 37.5% among boys who had experienced this type of victimisation, compared with 19.7% among girls.

The researchers say this reversal suggests that AI may be changing the nature of online sexual victimisation, with boys disproportionately affected when AI is involved.

Teens are turning to AI for help after online sexual abuse

The study found that AI isn't only being used as part of online sexual abuse. Some teenagers are also turning to it for help afterward.

Among adolescents who experienced online sexual victimisation, 18.7% disclosed what happened to AI, compared with 13.2% who told an authority, such as a teacher, doctor, counsellor, police officer, helpline or online reporting service. Boys were particularly likely to turn to AI: 27.1% disclosed to AI, compared with 14.6% of girls. 

More concerning, among those who disclosed their victimisation to AI, only 18.9% also told another person. In some cases, that means a chatbot may be the only place a teenager has revealed what happened.

This fits into a broader pattern. At least once a week, 36.6% of teens surveyed asked AI for personal life advice, 22.2% asked for counselling about personal problems, and 12.3% disclosed hurtful personal experiences. Overall, 17% engaged in all three forms of AI help-seeking at least once a week.

The study didn't ask teens why they chose AI over a person. However, previous research cited by the authors suggests that young people may hesitate to disclose online sexual experiences because they fear how adults will react, including having their phones taken away.

It's easy to understand some of AI's appeal: there's no shocked reaction, anger, lecture or awkward conversation. But a chatbot cannot replace a trusted adult who can help report abuse, preserve evidence and take practical steps to protect a teenager.

How parents can make it easier for teens to ask for help

Don't wait for something bad to happen to tell your teenager what they can expect if they come to you with an online problem.

Make it clear that asking for help won't automatically mean anger, blame or losing their phone. You could say: "If something happens online and you need help, you can tell me. I might be upset about what happened, but I won't be angry with you. We'll figure out what to do together."

This matters because previous research cited in the study found that fear of parents taking away their phones can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences. 

Parents can also make a few things clear before they're ever needed:

• You won't blame them for someone else's actions. Even if they originally shared an intimate image, someone else sharing or manipulating it without consent is not their responsibility.
• Fake doesn't mean harmless. An AI-generated sexual image can cause very real harm even though the image itself isn't authentic.
• They can ask for help before they know exactly what happened or what to do next.
• Don't immediately delete messages or other evidence. It may be needed to report what happened.
• AI shouldn't be the only place they ask for help. If they turn to a chatbot first, encourage them to also tell you or another trusted adult who can help them take action.

Talk about creating deepfakes, not only becoming a victim

There's another side of the conversation parents shouldn't overlook: teenagers need to understand that creating a sexualised AI image of someone else isn't a harmless prank just because the image is fake.

Talk about consent in terms that apply to AI as well as real photographs. Using someone's photo to create sexual content without their consent can cause very real harm, whether the target is a classmate, friend, ex-partner or stranger.

The study also found that online sexual victimisation tended to cluster within friendship groups, suggesting these experiences may be closer to teens' everyday social circles than parents realise.

Add technology to the conversation, too

Open conversations with your teen are essential, but technology can provide another layer of protection when you're unsure whether something you see online is authentic.

Bitdefender RealCheck, a standalone app for iOS and Android, can help you evaluate whether a video may have been manipulated, useful when you or your teen aren't sure whether what you're seeing online is real.

Bitdefender Family Plans help protect your family’s digital life from scams, malicious links, malware, identity risks and other online threats, while giving parents tools to support their children’s online safety. They can’t prevent someone from creating a deepfake, but they can help protect your family as digital threats continue to evolve.

Technology can't prevent every deepfake or replace the trusted adult a teenager needs when something goes wrong. But it can help families question what they see, identify potential threats and stay safer as those threats evolve.

You may also want to read:

• Teen sexting has risen sharply since 2019, new study finds
• Digital consent: When should you ask before sharing online?
• What to do if your child is being sextorted: A therapist’s guide for parents

Source: AI- and non-AI online child sexual victimisation, disclosures and help- seeking

FAQs

What is deepfake sexual abuse?

Deepfake sexual abuse involves using AI or other digital tools to create or manipulate sexual or nude images of a person without their consent. The original photograph does not need to be sexual; ordinary images can potentially be altered to create fake sexual content.

How common is AI-related sexual image abuse among teens?

In the 2026 Australian study, 26% of adolescents who experienced non-consensual sharing of sexual images said AI was involved. Across both types of online sexual victimisation measured by researchers, 14.9% of victims reported AI involvement.

Can someone create a nude deepfake if a teen has never sent a nude?

Yes. Generative AI can be used to manipulate ordinary photographs into fake nude or sexualised images. This means avoiding sexting cannot completely eliminate the risk of image-based sexual abuse.

Why are teens telling AI chatbots about online sexual abuse?

The study found that 18.7% of adolescents who experienced online sexual victimisation disclosed it to AI, but it did not directly ask participants why they chose AI. Previous research suggests fear of judgment, embarrassment and concerns about adults' reactions can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences.

What should parents do if their teen is targeted with a sexual deepfake?

Stay calm and make it clear that your child is not to blame. Avoid immediately deleting messages or other evidence. Save relevant usernames, messages, links and other information, report the content through the appropriate platform and reporting channels, and seek professional or law-enforcement support where appropriate.

Should parents take away a teen's phone after online sexual abuse?

Not automatically. Research cited in the study suggests that fear of losing phone access can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences. Unless continued access creates an immediate safety risk, focus first on stopping the abuse, preserving evidence and helping your teen feel safe enough to tell you what happened.

Is it safe for teens to ask AI chatbots for help?

AI can sometimes provide information or help a teenager organize their thoughts, but it shouldn't replace human support in serious situations such as sexual abuse, sextortion or non-consensual image sharing. Encourage teens who turn to AI first to also tell a trusted adult who can help them take action.