Put yourself in the scenario where you’re scrolling on your feed, and you see someone you know wearing something explicit, or wearing absolutely nothing, “Why would they post something like this?” you may think – except that’s not really them.

This is the reality of social media in the age of deep fakes. As AI technology gets easier to use, easier to access, and the things AI creates are more convincing to the audience, it’s hard to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fake. What at first might seem like harmless editing can turn quickly into something much more serious. So how safe are we, really, when our lives are so online?

In a survey conducted by The Bite, respondents were asked what they would do if they came across a deepfake, and 56% percent of respondents said they would ignore the image, where on the other hand only 4% respondents said they would report it. Although students encounter suspicious content online, only very few take action to address it.

In AISB, the environment surrounding all students should be safe. I want the readers to think before posting, and making sure that they are being responsible on social media.

The Rising Threat of AI-Generated Content

Deepfakes originally started gaining their popularity in 2017, where online users started creating realistic fake videos with platforms that used artificial intelligence, where celebrities would get their faces swapped with another’s body. 

The technology used quickly spread, then in 2022 OpenAI released a Large Language Model text generator, ChatGPT 3.5, to the general public, which gave rise to other AI apps focused on image generation—such as OpenAI’s DALL-E and Midjourney—that further closed the gap between fake and real.

Since then, the technology has been rapidly growing and improving, making it hard to spot whether or not it’s real or fake. A famous deepfake example was a photo-illustration of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket that fooled millions of people into thinking it was real.

According to a study done by The Global Statistics, “What began as a niche technical curiosity has become, by 2026, one of the most consequential and dangerous applications of AI in existence.”

Just recently on April 8th 2026, The NY Times published an opinion piece highlighting the rise of deepfakes in high schools of America, the author, Jessica Grose cited a report from Center for Countering Digital Hate December and early January, Grok “is estimated to have generated approximately three million sexualized images, including 23,000 that appear to depict children.” 

In this article Gross also wrote about one of the teens suing Grok (an AI technology platform), claiming an AI deepfake “showed her entire body, including her genitals, without any clothes. The video depicted her undressing until she was entirely nude.”

These scenes were created, in part, using this teenager’s face from her yearbook photo. It goes to show the huge toll deepfakes can have, and how even previously run-of-the-mill images like a yearbook photo can be weaponized against you.

But when AISB students were asked in the Bite survey the question “Have you heard of or seen examples of “deepfakes” in your personal social media feed?” 62.1% of the respondents said yes. But when asked, “How would you describe your understanding of deepfakes?” The majority of respondents “somewhat understand it.”

The majority of AISB still need to be educated on this topic, because although it’s being spread in other countries, it does not mean that it can start to grow in AISB.

In an article published called The Global Statistics, “Deepfake Statistics 2026, Cases, Victims and Key Facts” stated that “from 14,000 deepfake videos in 2019 to a projected 8 million in 2025 — a 571x increase in six years.”

EAL teacher Guy Boudreau recently taught grade 10 students about deepfakes in the Advisory program’s unit on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for students whose parents opted them into the program. I reached out to Boudreau, asking how deepfakes are harmful without consent.

Boudreau responds that, today, CSE “needs to include notions of respect at its core – underpinning the development of a healthy relationship with ourselves and with other people. Boundaries, consent, and respect are all important key concepts that need to be highlighted.”

What To Do If You See or Suspect a Deepfake

Deepfakes are becoming more realistic, but there are signs that you can look out for. An article published in 20233 helps with how the younger audience stays safe on the internet. Pay extra attention to facial expressions, which would look unnatural, such as lips not moving in sync with the speech, awkward blinking, or strange lighting and shadows. The audio might sound slightly off, with an unnatural tone. In most cases, the content may seem “Almost Real”, but it’s not quite right. Trust that instinct and take a closer look.

If you see something that undefinedmisleading, report it on the platform so it could be removed. Taking small actions can help someone a lot.

In a recent survey, students were asked, “How confident are you in telling if a video or image online is real or fake?”, the majority of students said they were not completely sure how to tell.

This shows an important issue, many students are exposed to digital content everyday but aren’t confident to tell what’s real and what’s not. It shows that there needs to be better awareness and strategies to navigate on social media.

If you discover that your image and likeness has been deepfaked, Boudreau says that “counseling services are always available through the school, and trustworthy adults to share with.”

This means that if a student is going through a situation where their image is being portrayed as something inappropriate, the school is able to help, and the student can be open to trustworthy adults. AISB takes immediate action because this is illegal in AISB campus, where using someone’s image and generating something disturbing using their school profile picture.

How to Protect Your Identity Online

When students have access to social media, the main thing they’re told is to be “safe online.” Students are told this so much; however, when this advice is repeated, they are rarely taught what being safe on social media looks like. 

In this generation, social media is becoming more dangerous, meaning that at any moment, a student’s identity could be shared, manipulated, and ruined. This is why it is important to take simple but effective steps, keep your account private, avoid sharing personal information, and take a second to think before posting an image or video. 

Even content shared with friends can be screenshotted, edited, or spread without permission. As images get easier to manipulate, students at AISB must also learn to question what they see online and understand that some content is not real. 

By being more aware and cautious, students can protect themselves from becoming victims in the digital world. To go back to taking a second to think before posting online, everything posted online connects to the digital footprint, which is difficult to erase, meaning that actions taken now can have long-term consequences. 

Beyond privacy concerns, these situations can have a big impact mentally, affecting a students confidence and sense of safety.

I think this is an issue which needs to be taken more seriously. AI technology and its misapplications are advancing at a concerningly high rate, thus it’s incredibly important for us to be able to protect ourselves and understand the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

Grade 10 student, requesting anonymity

In an online blog, “Internet Safety for Teens: How to Stay Safe Online in 2026,” the author speaks about how the internet is a “double-edged sword” for teens: a place to both find private social connections and also a place to be publicly humiliated.

By staying aware, respecting both their own privacy and others, and thinking critically about posting, students can better protect themselves from becoming victims in the digital world.

What Do AISB Students Think About Deepfakes?

Students responding to The Bite’s survey reasoned that although this is a serious issue, sometimes it can be excused when you are creating them with your friends to have “fun.”

But in reality it’s a bad idea, and in many cases, you can get into a lot of trouble.

I think that if it is made to harm someone or make fun of them it is definitely horrible but it can also be something funny you can joke around with friends and if you use it ethically it can be amusing.

Grade 10 student, requesting anonymity

Why Deepfakes of Your Friends Are Always a Bad Idea

Deepfakes created for “fun” sometimes are distinctively different from deepfakes intended to harm or smear a person’s reputation, and sometimes they are one and the same.

Here are some reasons that show you why—no matter the intent— it’s a bad idea:

Consent matters.

Even if you think it’s just a joke, using someone else’s face to create a deepfake without their permission, feels like a violation of privacy. The majority of people at AISB don’t want a deep fake of them floating around group chats and social media, especially if it looks real.

The impact it has on friendships

Friends might laugh at first… Or they could feel humiliated, embarrassed, or betrayed. Once trust is damaged, it’s hard to rebuild it.

Crossing legal boundaries

In Romania, making deepfakes of your friends without their consent–even as a joke–can violate their privacy and potentially lead to legal consequences.

“It’s a joke” doesn’t undo impact

Even if you mean it as humor, the effect on the other person(or others who see it) is what really matters.

Recognizing and reporting deepfakes isn’t just important, it helps protect others from harm.