Three in five young people say they worry that artificial intelligence could be used to create sexual or otherwise inappropriate images of them, a new survey has found, underscoring growing alarm about deepfake technology even as children increasingly adopt AI tools in daily life. According to the poll by the UK Safer Internet Centre and Nominet, 12 per cent of 13-to-17-year-olds reported having seen peers use AI to generate sexual pictures or videos of others. (Sources: [2],[6])

The study, carried out to coincide with Safer Internet Day, also found nearly all respondents between eight and 17 , 97 per cent , report using AI, and 58 per cent said it improves their lives. Many young people said they turn to AI for emotional help: 41 per cent described it as a source of emotional support and 34 per cent said it had helped with mental-health issues. Yet significant numbers expressed concerns about impacts on learning and creativity, with 35 per cent saying AI had reduced their personal creativity. (Sources: [7],[6])

Parents share that anxiety: 65 per cent of 2,000 parents questioned said they fear AI could be used to produce inappropriate images of their children, and a third said they worried about AI undermining cognitive development. The survey also revealed a gap between parent perception and young people’s behaviour , 54 per cent of children admitted using AI to assist with homework compared with 31 per cent of parents who thought this was happening. (Sources: [7])

Trade unions and educators have urged faster action to address classroom and wellbeing risks. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, warned of the scale of AI uptake among pupils and the potential harms to learning and mental health, saying: "Young people are already using AI at an unprecedented rate, including for their homework and studying. Yet the evidence is clear that the risks of AI use in education, particularly for young people’s learning and development, overshadow the benefits. Equally concerning is the number of young people who are relying on AI for emotional support, and those worried about AI being used to create inappropriate images of them. These findings must serve as a clarion call for Government to act urgently to ensure that children have the information, support and resources they need to make informed, safe and ethical decisions about AI." He argued changes to teaching practice cannot wait for slow curriculum reform. (Sources: [7])

Ministers point to policy measures and pilot programmes intended to spread educational benefits while tightening protections. Technology secretary Liz Kendall said the findings show children are "embracing AI in remarkable ways" and set out government plans to trial new teaching technologies in more than 1,000 schools and colleges and to roll out AI tutoring for disadvantaged pupils by the end of 2027. She added: "This research shows that young people are embracing AI in remarkable ways; using it to learn and save time. This is exactly how we want technology to support people of all ages. But its true benefits won’t be realised until AI is both safe and accessible to everyone. We are investing in safe AI tutors for disadvantaged children and upskilling millions of people across the country, while launching a national conversation on how we build a safer, fairer and more empowering digital future for every child. We are also clear that no-one should be victim to AI being weaponised to create abhorrent explicit content without their consent. That’s why we brought forward a new criminal offence to ban it." (Sources: [7],[4])

The survey comes amid regulatory scrutiny after reports that chatbots and image tools have been used to generate non-consensual sexualised images. The Information Commissioner's Office has opened a formal inquiry into X and its parent xAI over allegations that the Grok system produced intimate deepfake images without consent, and Ofcom is also examining possible breaches of the Online Safety Act. Campaigners and safety organisations warn the problem disproportionately targets women and girls and can fuel a range of harms from sextortion to severe mental-health impacts. According to Internet Matters, almost all "nudified" images encountered in recent investigations portray females, and the misuse of such tools has been linked to anxiety, depression and other serious consequences. (Sources: [2],[4],[6])

Experts say the converging evidence of widespread youth use, parental concern and regulator action point to a need for a combined response: clearer legal sanctions, platform accountability, teacher training and better digital education for families. While courts and lawmakers pursue criminal and regulatory remedies for non-consensual image creation, educators and child-safety groups are calling for immediate resources to help schools manage AI’s benefits and risks now, rather than waiting for longer-term curriculum revisions. (Sources: [3],[6])

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Source: Noah Wire Services