Millions of users reached AI nudify sites through YouTube and X: Report
Follow UsYouTube and X reportedly drove millions of users to AI nudify websites.
Researchers say these tools are easy to find despite platform rules.
Experts warn fake AI images are being used to harass and harm people.
YouTube and X reportedly are sending millions of users to websites that provide AI-powered nudify tools. These tools are built to create fake intimate images of individuals without their consent. As per a new report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), from December 2025 through March 2026, social media platforms sent more than 5.7 million referrals to the ten most popular websites that offer such tools, where YouTube and X are responsible for the majority of traffic. These results have generated serious concerns regarding the ease of finding such tools even with the presence of policies on social media platforms regarding non-consensual sexual material. Here’s all you need to know about the report and the response of the platforms.
SurveyWhat did the research find?
The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) studied the ten most popular AI tools that create non-consensual intimate images. Instead of just looking at the tools themselves, researchers looked at how people found them in the first place.
According to the research, between December 2025 and March 2026, social media platforms reportedly sent more than 5.7 million visits to websites that make these fake explicit images. YouTube was the biggest source, sending around 1.82 million visits. X followed closely as it was sent to more than 1.3 million users. Cumulatively, these two platforms account for a large chunk of traffic going to these websites.
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Search results
During the study the researchers found that when people searched for terms like ‘nudify app’ or ‘undress app’ on YouTube, then they were shown results that consist of videos explaining how these image-generating tools work. The researchers further added that many of these videos reviewed the apps, posted direct website links, and even shared promo codes for free credits.
According to them, this made it far too easy for people to reach these tools, even though using them goes against what platform safety rules are supposed to stand for. Melanie Smith, a senior policy and research director at ISD UK, said YouTube wasn’t just hosting this content. It was actively helping people find these tools.
YouTube policies vs the videos
YouTube has a policy prohibiting sexually explicit content being uploaded to its site. However, according to the research by ISD, the search results of the terms ‘nudify app’ or ‘undress app’ seem to be completely opposite to the policies adopted by YouTube. They argue that the rules should also apply to websites and tools that generate non-consensual intimate imagery. However, such content remained easy to discover, effectively turning the platform into a gateway to nudie websites.
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What did YouTube say?
In a statement provided to Wired, YouTube said that it bans unwanted sexual content, including non-consensual intimate images and realistic AI-generated nudity. The company further added that the rule also covers links that send users to outside websites.
Experts warn the problem is growing
The report from ISD also found that some of these tools charge as little money, which can be as low as one dollar, to create a fake image. They claimed that the victims whose images are often being created are the current or former partners of the person, and in some cases even family members are targeted. Researchers say the danger goes beyond just explicit images, as these tools are increasingly being used to scare people, ruin reputations, and hurt careers.
