Schools nationwide are grappling with a growing crisis: students using artificial intelligence to turn innocent images of classmates into sexually explicit deepfakes. These manipulated videos and photos can have devastating, lasting effects on victims’ emotional well-being. The issue gained national attention last fall when AI-generated nude images circulated at a Louisiana middle school, resulting in criminal charges against two boys and the expulsion of a 13-year-old victim who confronted a peer she accused of producing the images.

The advent of AI has drastically changed the landscape of image manipulation. As Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre noted, while image editing has existed for decades, AI now allows almost anyone to create realistic deepfakes with minimal skill. Experts like Sergio Alexander, a research associate at Texas Christian University, emphasize that creating these images has shifted from requiring technical expertise to being achievable through simple apps available on social media platforms.

The scale of the problem is alarming. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that AI-generated child sexual abuse images submitted to its cyber tipline surged from 4,700 in 2023 to 440,000 in the first half of 2025. This exponential increase underscores the urgent need for coordinated action by schools, parents, and lawmakers.

States are responding with legislation targeting AI-generated abuse. The Louisiana prosecution of middle school students was the first under the state’s new law, authored by Republican Sen. Patrick Connick. In 2025 alone, at least half of U.S. states enacted measures addressing the creation of fake images and videos, including simulated child sexual abuse material. Other students have faced legal consequences in Florida and Pennsylvania, while some California schools have issued expulsions. In a troubling case in Texas, a fifth-grade teacher was charged with using AI to produce sexual content involving his students.

Experts warn that many schools are still ill-prepared. Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, recommends updating school policies specifically for AI deepfakes and improving communication to ensure students understand the rules. He emphasizes that inaction fosters a false sense of security among students and parents, likening it to an “ostrich syndrome” where administrators hope the problem will disappear.

The trauma caused by AI deepfakes is uniquely intense. Unlike typical bullying or rumors, these realistic videos can go viral and resurface repeatedly, creating persistent emotional distress. Alexander notes that victims often experience severe anxiety and depression, feeling powerless to prove the images aren’t real.

Parental involvement is critical. Alexander advises beginning conversations casually, referencing humorous fake videos online, then gradually introducing the topic of deepfakes and asking if children know someone who has been affected. Establishing trust is essential, ensuring children feel safe reporting incidents without fear of punishment or confiscation of devices.

Laura Tierney, founder and CEO of The Social Institute, which provides guidance on responsible social media use, advocates for a structured approach using the acronym SHIELD to prevent and respond to deepfake incidents in schools. This framework emphasizes awareness, monitoring, and support to mitigate the emotional and social impact of AI-driven cyberbullying.

Schools, parents, and policymakers face a growing imperative to adapt to the digital age, protecting students from the rapid rise of AI-enabled exploitation while fostering safe, accountable online environments.