Social media platforms YouTube and X are funnelling millions of visitors to AI-powered nudify apps that generate non-consensual explicit deepfakes, a new study has found. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) published a report on July 13 showing that social networks drove more than 5.7 million visits to nudify sites between December 2025 and March 2026, with YouTube accounting for over 30 percent of referral traffic and X as the second-largest source.

The findings challenge the assumption that nudify apps spread only through the fringes of the internet. Instead, they are easily discoverable through mainstream platforms that have policies explicitly prohibiting such content.

What You Need to Know

  • Social networks drove 5.7 million visits to nudify apps in four months (Dec 2025 to Mar 2026)
  • YouTube was the top referrer with 1.82 million visits (over 30 percent)
  • X was second with over 1.3 million visits
  • Some nudify apps generate up to USD 36 million in collective annual revenue
  • Users can generate explicit deepfakes for as low as USD 1 per image
  • Report says platform policies against non-consensual intimate images are not being enforced

How the Study Worked

ISD researchers searched for keywords like undress app and nudify app on several social media platforms. They found videos that not only reviewed and promoted specific nudify apps but also contained links to promo codes where users could get free credits. Most nudify apps use generative AI tools to realistically make it look like a person has been stripped of their clothing in an image or video.

The report found that access to these tools is priced as low as USD 1 per image, yet the apps collectively earn massive revenues. Wired reported that some nudify platforms generate as much as USD 36 million in collective revenue every year.

YouTube's Role

YouTube was the primary driver of traffic to nudify apps. The platform's policies prohibit sexually explicit content, including altered or synthetic content that realistically simulates nudity. They also prohibit posting links to or advertising sexually explicit websites. Despite these policies, ISD found that content violating them was easily discoverable and accessible on the platform, effectively turning it into a gateway to nudify websites.

Melanie Smith, senior director of research and policy at ISD, said YouTube was not just a passive source of referral traffic. In many cases, it was facilitating the use of these tools. YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle responded that the company has strict policies prohibiting content that includes unwanted sexualization and that these policies apply both to content on YouTube and to external links.

X as the Second Gateway

Elon Musk-owned X was highlighted as the second-most prominent source of referral traffic, accounting for over 1.3 million visits. The platform has faced criticism for reduced content moderation since Musk's acquisition, and this study adds to the evidence that harmful content is proliferating on the platform.

Who Is Targeted

The most common targets of nudify apps are current and ex-girlfriends as well as relatives such as sisters and cousins, according to the ISD report. The motivations are not necessarily sexual. The report authors noted that many requests were about getting people fired from jobs and compromising their livelihoods in nefarious ways.

What This Means

The ISD report's findings are significant because they show that platform guardrails against non-consensual intimate images are far from adequate. Despite policies that theoretically cover nudify apps, enforcement is inconsistent. As AI image generation tools become more powerful and accessible, the scale of this problem is likely to grow unless platforms take more aggressive action.

Bottom Line

AI nudify apps are not a fringe internet problem. They are being driven by mainstream social media traffic, and platforms are not enforcing their own policies. Until YouTube and X take meaningful enforcement action against content that promotes these tools, the harmful ecosystem will continue to grow.