The Dangerous Rise of AI Deepfakes Targeting Teen Girls

Recently, I was contacted by Aimee Cho from NBC4 Washington regarding a growing and deeply concerning issue affecting teenagers online: AI-generated deepfakes.

You can read the news story here:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/fairfax-county-considers-discipline-for-students-who-make-deepfakes-of-classmates/4071417/

As a photographer who works with teens and high school seniors every year, this issue suddenly became very personal.

When a Teen’s Photos Are Turned Into Deepfakes

A former Fearless Spirit Model reached out after something disturbing happened on Instagram.

An unknown account contacted her and sent her images that had been generated using AI deepfake technology.

The images were created from photos I had taken of her during her time in the Fearless Spirit program.

They were not real photos.

But someone had taken normal portraits and used AI tools to manipulate them into explicit images.

This type of image manipulation is known as a deepfake.

Even though the images are fabricated, the emotional impact on the teen is very real.

What Many Teens (and Parents) Don’t Realize

Many teenagers experimenting with AI tools may not understand the seriousness of what they are doing.

Altering an image of a minor’s body in a sexual way can legally be considered child pornography, which is a felony.

Schools across the country are beginning to deal with this issue, and some districts are already considering disciplinary policies specifically addressing AI-generated deepfake images of students.

Technology is evolving quickly, and unfortunately, misuse often spreads just as fast.

Why This Matters for Parents

Most teens today have social media accounts, and Instagram is one of the most common places where these situations begin.

Many teens accept follow requests from people they don’t know or respond to messages from anonymous accounts.

That can open the door to harassment, manipulation, or someone downloading their photos and altering them with AI tools.

This is not meant to create fear, but awareness matters.

The more parents understand how these tools can be misused, the better prepared we are to protect our kids.

Simple Ways to Help Protect Your Teen Online

If your child uses Instagram or other social media platforms, there are a few steps that can significantly reduce risk.

Make their account private.

This prevents strangers from easily accessing their photos.

Encourage them to only accept follow requests from people they know.

Talk about responding to unknown messages.

Many situations begin when teens reply to anonymous accounts.

Explain that images online can be manipulated.

AI tools can now alter photos in ways that many teens don’t realize.

These conversations may feel uncomfortable, but they are becoming increasingly important as technology changes.

Why I’m Speaking Up

At Storybook Studios in Chesapeake, I photograph teens during some of the most important seasons of their lives — senior year, milestones, and confidence-building programs like the Fearless Spirit Model Crew.

The girls who come through my studio aren’t just clients.

They are young women I care about deeply.

Seeing one of them targeted this way was heartbreaking.

But if sharing this experience helps even one parent start a conversation with their teen about online safety, then it’s worth speaking up.

Technology will continue to evolve.

Awareness and education are some of the most powerful tools we have to keep our kids safe.

If you’re a parent of a teen, please consider sharing this post so more families understand the risks and how to protect their children online.