Most mainstream social media platforms implement stringent guidelines aimed at curbing the distribution of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) and sexually explicit content. Yet, a recent report reveals a concerning trend: many of these platforms inadvertently direct users towards such material.
A detailed study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a recognized anti-extremism organization, investigates the online landscape that facilitates the spread of “nudification” apps and websites. These platforms allow individuals to digitally undress others without their consent.
In a recent study, released on Monday, we explored the top 10 apps and websites utilized for generating explicit non-consensual deepfakes and how users discover these tools. The findings indicated that a substantial portion of referral traffic originated from mainstream social media networks, rather than from smaller, loosely regulated online communities like 4chan.
According to the ISD report, between December 2025 and March 2026, social networks generated over 5.7 million visits to these sites. YouTube emerged as the largest contributor, accounting for 1.82 million site visits or more than 30% of total referrals.
These visits were largely driven by searches for terms such as “undress app,” which led users to content ranging from reviews to promotional links offering free credits. The research found that site X was the second-largest source of traffic, tallying more than 1.3 million visits.
The authors of the report noted that these findings starkly contradict YouTube’s policies against sexually explicit content. “This logically includes nude websites and tools that generate non-consensual images,” the report states. “However, violating content is easily accessible on the platform, effectively transforming it into a gateway for unauthorized site access.”
“It’s not merely that YouTube was a passive contributor to referral traffic,” asserts Melanie Smith, ISD’s senior director of research and policy. “In many instances, these tools were also facilitated for easier use.”
Notably, Smith highlights that YouTube’s policies not only ban sexually explicit content, but also prohibit linking to or advertising sexually explicit websites. “Theoretically, this should extend to non-consensual images and revenge porn, but enforcement appears lacking,” she notes.
When approached for comments, YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle stated that the company maintains “strict policies prohibiting unwanted sexually explicit content, including intimate images shared without consent.” These rules encompass both YouTube content and external links, covering “altered or synthetic content that accurately simulates nudity.”
The study further analyzed the cost structure and accessibility of nudity tools, revealing that users can create sexual content for as little as $1 per image. Despite this low entry cost, such platforms can be immensely lucrative, with estimates suggesting revenues reaching up to $36 million annually.
Common targets for nudification apps include current partners, exes, and, disturbingly, even family members like sisters and cousins. The study’s authors were taken aback to find that the motivations behind using these tools were not strictly “sexual.” Smith elaborated, “Many requests were geared towards damaging someone’s career or livelihood in a profoundly inhumane manner.”
While the Nudify app has become notorious across numerous social media platforms, the issue extends beyond AI-generated images; it also enables users to create explicit content.
Source: www.wired.com