A new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue finds that YouTube sent 1.82 million users to sites creating nonconsensual intimate images between December 2025 and March 2026.
The study, published on Monday, examined how people locate tools to digitally undress individuals without their permission. It discovered that mainstream social networks drive far more traffic to these services than smaller, poorly regulated communities.
Between December 2025 and March 2026, social networks drove more than 5.7 million visits to nudify sites. YouTube was the primary driver, accounting for 30 percent of all referrals. X was the second most significant source, sending over 1.3 million visits to the same destinations.
These referrals came from searches using keywords like “undress app” or “nudify app”. The results ranged from reviews of specific software to links offering promo codes for free credits.
Platform policies versus reality
The report authors state these findings appear in “direct conflict” with YouTube’s rules. The platform prohibits sexually explicit content. The report notes this should logically include nudify websites or tools generating nonconsensual imagery. Yet, content violating these policies remained easily discoverable and accessible.
Melanie Smith, senior director of research and policy for the ISD, told WIRED that YouTube was not merely a passive source of referral traffic. She added that in many cases, the platform was facilitating the use of these tools.
Smith noted that YouTube policies prohibit posting links to or advertising sexually explicit websites. While this should cover nonconsensual imagery and revenge porn, she said it does not seem to be enforced comprehensively.
In response to a request for comment, YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle stated the company has strict policies prohibiting content that includes unwanted sexualization. He noted these rules apply to content on YouTube and external links. The policies include altered or synthetic content that realistically simulates nudity.
The cost and the targets
The study examined the pricing of nudification tools. Some apps and websites allow users to generate sexually explicit content for as little as $1 an image. Despite low individual costs, the platforms can be extremely profitable. A recent WIRED report found they may generate as much as $36 million in collective revenue per year.
Common targets include current and ex-girlfriends, as well as relatives such as sisters and cousins. Smith said the authors were surprised to find that user motivations are not necessarily sexual in nature.
She explained that many requests were about getting people fired from jobs or compromising their livelihoods in nefarious ways.
Nudify apps have become a major scourge on many social media platforms. Sometimes, a platform will not only allow these AI-generated images to spread but also help people make them.
In January 2026, X faced intense criticism when people used the AI chatbot Grok to generate nude or sexually suggestive images of women without their consent, including some minors. The uproar prompted the company to issue a statement saying it was limiting access to Grok to paid users.
The statement read: “We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.” X did not respond to a request for comment.
Legal limits and enforcement gaps
Nonconsensual intimate images are illegal in the United States. The federal Take It Down Act, which went into full effect in May, mandates that social media platforms must remove nonconsensually distributed images within 48 hours of a victim submitting a takedown request.
Most states have adopted some form of anti-deepfake legislation. In May 2026, Minnesota became the first state to ban nudification apps specifically.
Despite such legislation, the apps have only continued to spread. They have also become more accessible and easier to use.
The ISD report emphasizes the need for coordinated, system-wide responses spanning online, offline, hybrid, and policy interventions. This includes increased platform regulation and funding for school digital literacy workshops. However, a recent WIRED investigation found reported deepfake cases in more than 90 schools around the world.
It does not seem like the proliferation of nudify apps is slowing down anytime soon.
