This piece is part of a collection of works commissioned by WeProtect Global Alliance to amplify youth voices at their 2024 global summit.

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Welcome to the wild, wild web— where memes are everywhere, friends connect, and cat videos seem to rule all. But there is a darker side to the internet that I think needs to be addressed: sexual exploitation. With the rise of artificial intelligence, especially deepfakes, the stakes have never been higher. It’s important to understand how this affects young people. Imagine having a fake inappropriate image of you shared all across the internet; it can change your life in ways you can’t even predict. Here is a short story I have written to try and illustrate how horrible a situation like this can be for someone going through it. While the young woman in this story is fictional, sharing these stories helps us see just how real and scary this problem is. 

Mia is a vibrant 17-year-old who thought she was just using social media like any other teen would. She loved sharing photos, messaging her friends, and scrolling through endless TikTok videos. One day, she received a friend request from a classmate known for being one of the ‘cool guys’. Their initial conversations seemed harmless - they chatted, shared memes, and developed what Mia believed was a real friendship. Then this person proved to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

After winning her trust, this guy manipulated Mia's images and created deepfakes where she appeared in compromising situations. The photos spread like wildfire online, and it felt like her whole life was falling apart right before her eyes all within a couple of days. Friends turned against her, they didn’t believe that the images weren’t real, and the weight of humiliation felt like it was dragging her down. The worst part was the images were being sent around by someone she knew, someone she had trusted.

This is not just Mia's story; it could happen to anyone. As deepfake technology gets more intelligent, so do those who will misuse it. It will also become more easily accessible to those who want to create false harmful images like the ones in this story. Imagine sharing your life online in a very innocent way, which, one day, turns out to be a nightmare chasing you down every scroll.

So what are the consequences of this digital horror story? The effects can be long-lasting. Many of those who go through something like this could feel isolated from their friends like they have no one to turn to, they may also experience feelings of depression and anxiety. And with images repeatedly spread online it can bring up strong feelings of betrayal and hurt again without notice. It could even have an impact on self-esteem and future relationships as the person affected could be left to deal with a digital footprint.

Also, once something is thrown on the internet, it can often spread quickly and be hard to completely erase. This not only affects those who are directly targeted by attacks like this but it causes a lack of trust and increased fear on the internet in general. Innocent users might be wondering if they will be next. Who likes to feel that way in a world that was meant for enjoyment and connection?

Now, how do we turn the table? Governments and tech companies have a role to protect young users such as Mia. They have to play their part to step up with stricter regulations to reduce the misuse of AI, by punishing wrongdoers to create an online environment for a safe space. Social media companies should make it easy for users to report harmful content so that it can be taken down quickly, and those reports should be taken seriously. We should educate ourselves and our peers about online safety and the dangers of deepfakes. The more we are informed, the more empowered we become! Finally, tech companies should develop AI detection tools that can spot manipulated content before it wreaks havoc, giving us the power to fight exploitation head-on.

Online sexual exploitation carries very grave consequences. The alarm bells are ringing loudly - we need to tackle this issue before it gets even more out of hand. Governments and technology companies need to collaborate on tighter regulations and reporting mechanisms while educating young people on safety issues. 

Young people should be allowed to explore, connect, and thrive without the shadow of exploitation lurking around every corner. 

To capture the rollercoaster of emotions from those who may have stories like Mia’s, here is a short poem.

Digital Storm

In the screen's world, where shadows reside,

A false face emerged, with nowhere to hide.

With a click, they unraveled my truth into lies,

Turning laughter to tears, beneath digital skies.

Yet amidst the chaos, I'll find my own voice,

Reclaiming my power, embracing my choice.

Together we rise, let our stories be told,

For every young heart, let our courage unfold.