SOCIAL NETWORKS DRIVE MILLIONS TO DEEPFAKE SITES

YouTube generated 1.82 million referrals to nudify sites during the four-month period, while X contributed 1.3 million visits. These platforms are directing users to services that create sexually explicit deepfakes for as little as $1 per image. The research highlights how major social networks inadvertently facilitate the distribution of nonconsensual intimate imagery. Users often encounter promotional content, links, or discussions about deepfake services on these platforms, which then drive traffic to sites offering the technology. Nonconsensual deepfake pornography has emerged as a significant privacy and harassment concern. The technology allows bad actors to fabricate explicit images of real people without consent, frequently targeting women and celebrities. The study underscores the challenge platforms face in moderating harmful content and the need for stronger policies addressing deepfake promotion and distribution across social media networks.