YouTube and X Have Become Gateways to Nudify Apps
A new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue reveals that mainstream social media platforms, particularly YouTube and X, are driving millions of visits to websites that non-consensually undress people.
A study published by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) on Monday finds that social media platforms are a major source of traffic to 'nudify' apps—tools that allow users to create non-consensual explicit deepfakes. The research analyzed the top 10 such apps and websites and tracked how users find them.
Between December 2025 and March 2026, social networks generated over 5.7 million visits to nudify sites. YouTube was the top driver, responsible for 1.82 million visits—more than 30% of referrals. Videos promoting these tools, often found via searches like 'undress app' or 'nudify app', included reviews, direct links, and promo codes. X contributed over 1.3 million visits, making it the second-largest source.
The report notes that this appears to violate YouTube's own policies, which prohibit sexually explicit content and links to such material. However, enforcement gaps allowed content to remain easily discoverable. YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle stated the company has strict policies against non-consensual intimate imagery, including synthetic content, and applies them to both platform content and external links.
The study also examined the business model: some apps charge as little as $1 per image, and a recent WIRED investigation suggested collective revenues could reach $36 million annually. Common targets include current and ex-girlfriends, as well as relatives. Motivations aren't always sexual—many users aim to damage reputations or get people fired.
In January 2026, X faced backlash after users exploited its AI chatbot Grok to generate nude images without consent. X later limited Grok to paid subscribers, stating zero tolerance for child exploitation and non-consensual nudity. In the U.S., the Take It Down Act requires platforms to remove such content within 48 hours, and Minnesota became the first state to specifically ban nudify apps in May 2026. Despite legal efforts, the report concludes that coordinated policy responses and digital literacy programs are urgently needed.
