YouTube and X Have Evolved into ‘Entry Points’ for Nudifying Apps

Many widely-used social media platforms implement strict policies against the sharing of nonconsensual intimate images (NCII), such as explicit photos and videos. However, a recent report reveals that numerous social media sites actively direct users to such content.

The report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a non-profit focused on combating extremism and misinformation, examines the online environment that supports the rise of “nudify” applications and websites, enabling users to digitally undress individuals without consent.

Published on Monday, the study analyzed the top 10 apps and websites used for creating nonconsensual explicit deepfakes, and explored how individuals locate these platforms. It uncovered that a significant amount of referral traffic originates not from obscure, poorly regulated online spaces like 4chan, but from mainstream social media networks.

According to the ISD report, social networks contributed to over 5.7 million visits to nudify sites between December 2025 and March 2026, with YouTube being the largest source, accounting for 1.82 million visits—over 30 percent of total referrals.

The videos related to searches for terms such as “undress app” or “nudify app” ranged from reviews and promotions of specific apps to links providing promo codes for free credits. X was the second largest source of traffic, driving more than 1.3 million visits, the study indicates.

The authors of the study noted that these findings seem to contradict YouTube’s policies, which ban sexually explicit content. “This should logically encompass nudify websites or tools that create nonconsensual explicit imagery,” the report states. “Yet, content violating these guidelines was readily discoverable and accessible, effectively transforming the platform into a conduit for nudify websites.”

“YouTube wasn’t merely a passive source” of referral traffic, states Melanie Smith, the senior director of research and policy at ISD, in an interview with WIRED. “In many instances, it actively facilitated the usage of these tools as well.”

Interestingly, Smith highlights that YouTube’s regulations don’t only ban the posting of sexually explicit content but also prohibit links to or advertisements for such websites (for instance, linking to an OnlyFans). “In theory, these policies should also apply to nonconsensual imagery and revenge porn, yet it appears that enforcement is not comprehensive,” she observes.

In response to a request for comment from WIRED, YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle stated that the company enforces “strict policies prohibiting content that involves unwanted sexualization, including nonconsensually shared intimate imagery.” He emphasized that these guidelines extend to both content on YouTube and external links and cover “altered or synthetic content that realistically simulates nudity.”

The study also evaluated the cost and availability of nudification tools, noting that some apps and websites allow users to create sexually explicit content for as little as $1 per image. Despite the low cost of using these platforms, they can be highly profitable, with a recent WIRED report estimating a collective annual revenue of up to $36 million.

Common targets of nudification apps include current and former girlfriends, and disturbingly, even relatives like sisters and cousins. The study’s authors were also taken aback to find that many users of nudify tools do not have overtly “sexual” motivations; rather, some requests aim to harm individuals’ employment and lives in malicious ways, according to Smith.

Nudify apps have emerged as a significant issue across various social media platforms. In some cases, the platforms not only permit the spread of these AI-generated images but also assist users in creating them.