*Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create fake nude images of unsuspecting victims, and a new study suggests YouTube and X are playing a much bigger role in spreading those tools than previously believed. Researchers say the platforms have become major gateways, directing millions of users to websites that generate nonconsensual, sexually explicit deepfakes, raising new concerns about whether tech companies are enforcing their own rules.
The report, released by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and first reported by WIRED, examined the 10 most popular AI “nudify” apps and websites, along with how users discovered them. Rather than relying primarily on fringe online communities, researchers found that mainstream social media platforms generated more than 5.7 million visits to the sites between December 2025 and March 2026.
YouTube and X Drive Millions of Referrals
According to the report, YouTube accounted for approximately 1.82 million visits to nudify websites—more than 30% of all referral traffic tracked during the study. X ranked second with more than 1.3 million visits.
Researchers found that users searching YouTube for terms like “undress app” and “nudify app” could easily find videos reviewing the tools, demonstrating how they worked and even offering promotional codes for free credits. Instead of simply discussing the technology, many videos actively directed viewers to the websites.
The report says those findings appear to conflict with YouTube’s own policies, which prohibit unwanted sexualization, nonconsensual intimate imagery and links to sexually explicit websites.
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“It wasn’t just that YouTube was a passive source” of referral traffic, Melanie Smith, ISD’s senior director of research and policy, told WIRED. “In a lot of these cases, it was facilitating the use of these tools as well.”
Smith also noted that YouTube’s rules already prohibit links promoting sexually explicit websites, suggesting many of the videos identified by researchers should have been removed.
In response to WIRED, YouTube said it has strict policies prohibiting unwanted sexualization, including altered or synthetic content that realistically depicts nudity, and that those standards also apply to links directing users to outside websites. X did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.
Low Cost, High Harm
The study found some nudify websites charge as little as $1 to generate an AI-created explicit image, making the tools inexpensive and widely accessible. At the same time, a previous WIRED investigation estimated the platforms collectively generate as much as $36 million in annual revenue.
Researchers found that current and former romantic partners are among the most common targets. More disturbing were requests involving relatives, including sisters and cousins.
The report also challenges the assumption that users are motivated only by sexual gratification.
“A lot of the requests were about getting people fired from jobs and compromising their livelihoods and lives in nefarious ways,” Smith told WIRED.
Researchers said the findings show AI-generated explicit imagery is increasingly being weaponized to harass, intimidate and damage victims’ reputations.
Lawmakers and Platforms Face Growing Pressure
The report arrives as governments and technology companies continue struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving AI tools.
Earlier this year, X faced criticism after users employed its Grok chatbot to generate nude or sexually suggestive images of women without their consent, including some minors. The company later restricted some image-generation features and reaffirmed its policies prohibiting child sexual exploitation, nonconsensual nudity and unwanted sexual content.
The federal Take It Down Act, which took effect in May, requires online platforms to remove nonconsensually distributed intimate images within 48 hours after a victim submits a valid takedown request. Minnesota has also become the first state to specifically ban nudify apps, while other states have enacted laws targeting AI-generated deepfakes.
Despite those legal changes, researchers say the technology continues spreading because the apps remain cheap, easy to use and readily available online.
Experts Call for Stronger Enforcement
The ISD report concludes that legislation alone will not stop the problem. Researchers are calling for stronger enforcement by social media platforms, additional regulation and expanded digital literacy education to help prevent the misuse of AI-generated explicit imagery.
The report follows another recent WIRED investigation that identified reported deepfake cases at more than 90 schools worldwide, highlighting how widely the technology has spread and how frequently students have become victims.
Researchers argue that unless platforms like YouTube and X aggressively enforce their own policies and remove videos promoting nudify services, they will continue functioning as gateways to websites that create nonconsensual fake nude images. The report says meaningful progress will require coordinated action from technology companies, policymakers and educators to curb the growing misuse of AI-powered deepfake tools.
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