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This note comes from Mistlift, a plain-language guide for parents and educators to what kids are into online.

A note for families: Sexual deepfakes and Grok images

Act Ages 12-17 Last checked January 22, 2026

What it is

AI tools, including Grok on X, have been used to turn ordinary photos of real people, including children, into sexualized images without their consent, and those images can be used to humiliate or blackmail.

How much it matters

Real, documented harm. A person checked this card before it was published.

Should you worry?

Any photo of your teen that is posted online, even a school photo or a selfie, can be altered by AI into a fake sexualized image. Researchers estimate Grok produced millions of such images in under two weeks, thousands of which appear to show children, and Canada's privacy commissioner has opened an investigation. The harm is real even though the image is fake: shame, bullying, and sometimes blackmail, where someone threatens to share the image unless the child pays or sends more. Warning signs include a teen who suddenly seems anxious or withdrawn, avoids school or their phone, deletes accounts, or mentions someone threatening them. If it happens, tell your teen it is not their fault, keep screenshots as evidence, do not engage with or pay anyone making threats, and report it to the platform. Creating or sharing these images of other young people can also lead to serious school and legal consequences, so it is worth making that clear too.

What to say

“I read that AI can now fake photos of real people, and some of it is really ugly. If anyone ever makes or shares a fake picture of you, or threatens to, it is not your fault and you will not be in trouble with me. Just tell me, and we will deal with it together.”

If you’re worried

If your child is in immediate danger, call 911. To report online sexual exploitation, sextortion or sexual images of a minor, contact Cybertip.ca. NeedHelpNow.ca helps get intimate images removed from the internet. Kids Help Phone is available to your teen at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If your child talks about hurting themselves, call or text 988.

Sources

Read the full card, and share it, at mistlift.app/cards/sexual-deepfakes-grok-images