May 2025 Tech-related Resource Roundup

PODCAST: Deepfake Technology and A.I. in Sexual Exploitation - Ending Sexploitation Podcast

In this episode of the Ending Sexploitation podcast , senior staff from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation discuss the current state of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology in the realm of sexual exploitation. Overwhelmingly, these tools are used for pornographic material, and 10% of teenagers have reported being aware of deepfake pornography depicting someone they know. Learn more and find out how you can advocate for meaningful change here.

ARTICLE: What Is Sextortion? And What to Do If It Happens to You

If someone is threatening to share private and explicit/nude photos or videos of you, even AI-generated ones, that’s called sextortion. It’s a crime. It’s happening to a lot of young people. And it’s not their fault. Read about how parents can help a teen who’s being blackmailed with sextortion.

ARTICLE: Take It Down Act

On April 28, 2025, Congress passed historic legislation to combat the online spread of non-consensual intimate images (NCII).. The TAKE IT DOWN Act represents a monumental shift in protecting victims—especially children and survivors of tech-enabled sexual abuse—from exploitation in the digital age. Read more here.

WEB RESOURCE: Social AI Companions

According to testing commissioned by commonsense.org (a leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools), social AI companions – AI-powered “assistants” designed to engage in interactive, realistic-seeming conversation – pose unacceptable risks to teens and children under 18, including encouraging harmful behaviors, providing inappropriate content, and potentially exacerbating mental health conditions. See the results of the tests, read about the concerns, and view guidance and recommendations here.

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April 2025 Tech-related Resource Roundup

ARTICLE: What Adolescence gets right (and wrong) about the manosphere

The Netflix series Adolescence raises the important issue of online radicalization and the manosphere – but there is no straightforward reason as to how or why young people are radicalized to commit extreme acts of violence. Read more about how this series sheds light on the phenomenon of online radicalization.

SERIES: Adolescence

Watch Adolescence on Netflix. Watch now.

SHORT VIDEO: Dirty Dozen List 2025 Presents: Communications Decency Act Section 230

Every year, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation presents a Dirty Dozen List targeting 12 entities or platforms that they find to be facilitating, enabling, or profiting from sexual abuse and exploitation. This year, they are focusing on 12 stories that unmask the real root of the problem: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Watch this 2-minute video to learn more and find out how you can take action. Watch now.

ARTICLE: When Abusers Threaten Revenge Porn

Sharing explicit images without permission or “leaking nudes” is a form of sexual violence that is used to exert control over a partner or ex-partner. Learn more about this coercive tactic and what you can do if you are targeted. Read now.

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March 2025 Tech-related Resource Roundup

ARTICLE: Digital Childhood Starts at Age Two: Landmark Study Shows Evolution of Young Children's Media Use

New research finds that 40% of children have a tablet by age 2 and spend about 2.5 hours per day on screen time. Gaming time has surged 65% since 2020, and traditional TV viewing has declined, while short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts are on the rise, underscoring the increasingly complex media environment that parents must navigate in their children's early years. Read more key findings and find the full report here.

VIDEO: Digital Essentials for Seniors

This video by Older Adults Technology Service (OATS) and AARP explores how to create strong passwords, spotting and avoiding online spam and phishing attempts, securing online banking, and other useful digital tips. Watch now.

ARTICLE: Digital Essentials: Online Safety

Research shows that deepfake pornography makes up 98% of all deepfake videos online, and 99% of the individuals targeted in deepfake pornography are women. It now takes less that 25 minutes and costs $0 to create a 60-second deepfake pornographic video of anyone using just one clear face image. Create a free account with medium.com to read more about this troubling trend.

VIDEO: Unpacking the Threat of Chatbots (with Adam Dodge)

Research shows kids spend more time on Character AI than TikTok. Why? Companion bots (chatbots), like Character AI, are more addictive than social media because they simulate real human relationships without the potential for conflict. They offer 24/7 validation - a “friend” who is always there to support, entertain and agree with you. It’s nice in theory but harmful in practice. Digital safety advocate Adam Dodge unpacks this phenomenon here.

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