Can you secure a child’s emotional space in the digital playground?
It feels impossible to keep up. Just when we understand what’s risky or threatening on social, something new arrives. Today that threat is the deepfake. These synthetic clips are no longer just political stunts; they’re being used by school-age children to bully and humiliate classmates. Ignoring deepfake cyber-bullying won’t make it go away, in fact, it’s on the increase. A RAND survey in October 2024 revealed that 13% of K–12 school principals reported deepfake cyberbullying incidents during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 school years. Middle and high schools were affected most, with 20% and 22% of principals reporting incidents, respectively.
Alongside the damage of a deepfake attack itself, not knowing what to do in the aftermath also presents a huge risk to a child’s emotional security.
The deepfake threat is real
The sad reality is that deepfake creation tools—like “nudify” apps—are fast, free, and dangerously accessible. They turn ordinary photos into tools of abuse.
- Trauma is shared: according to the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), 15% of students report knowing about AI-generated explicit images of a classmate (CDT, 2024). This shows the problem is already widespread.
- The emotional fallout: victims experience intense shame, humiliation, and deep anxiety. These incidents can be so severe that students are forced to change schools due to the psychological damage. This is a form of digital trauma.
Why children suffer in silence
When a student is targeted by a non-consensual deepfake, their first instinct is often silence. They fear the reaction from trusted adults more than the perpetrator. They may worry they will be blamed for the image, or punished. They may dread the emotional reactions from their trusted adults and feel guilt about worrying or upsetting them. This all contributes to a feeling of isolation that’s experienced by child victims of AI-generated content. And this of course amplifies the psychological impact and ongoing consequences of deepfake attacks.
To counter this, parents and trusted adults must make sure that children know their safety net is strong.
Three guidelines for a trust-first conversation
How do we start this vital, difficult conversation? Empathy and zero judgment has to be the basis of any dialogue on deepfake attacks.
- Start with curiosity, not accusation: don’t ask, “Did you share something you shouldn’t have?” Instead, start by acknowledging the child’s reality and then inquire: “You seem down, and I know you’ve mentioned deepfakes at school. How are they making you feel?” This opens the door.
- Verify the source, not the shame: teach children about algorithmic authenticity. Explain that a video is not evidence; it is merely content. Establish what that means: that even though you see or hear some things, they’re not necessarily real. You can use a deepfake detector to demonstrate this to your child, so they can clearly see that what appears real sometimes isn’t. If they have been targeted, immediately report the content to the platform (and authorities like CEOP/NSPCC in the UK). Save the evidence, but do not re-share the fake as this perpetuates the momentum of the attack.
- Establish a zero-blame pledge: reassure them repeatedly. They are not at fault. Explain that their image was stolen. Your role is to support the victim, not investigate how the image was taken. Prioritise their mental well-being above all else.
- Communicate with school staff: as it’s really important to raise their awareness about what’s going on. Don’t assume that they know.
We cannot stop the technology, but we can teach compassion and resilience. Because deepfakes aren’t going away, the onus is on equipping your child with the digital literacy and the emotional assurance to live confidently online and offline.
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