70% of Child Sexual Abuse Involves Other Kids: What Parents Must Know About Peer Harm and AI Deepfakes
For decades, we've warned our children about stranger danger. We've taught them not to talk to people they don't know online. We've installed parental controls and monitoring software. But we've been looking in the wrong direction.
The uncomfortable truth? Over 70% of child sexual abuse cases involve another child or teen as the perpetrator. Not strangers. Not adults lurking online. Their classmates, teammates, and former boyfriends or girlfriends.
And now, artificial intelligence has weaponized peer harm in devastating new ways.
The Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
Jenny Coleman, Director of Stop It Now!—a national leader in child sexual abuse prevention—has spent over a decade helping families confront this reality. "We've known for years that families know the person who has abused them up to 90% of the time," she explains. "Stranger danger is an old fallacy that gets in the way of prevention."
According to research from Thorn, one in four teens has either seen or know someone who's been targeted by AI-generated nude images. These incidents doubled in 2024 alone. The majority? Created by classmates or ex-partners.
"Kids are practicing relationships in all sorts of ways, not just in real time but online," Coleman notes. "When we say 'you don't know who's out there,' for these kids, these are friends of theirs. We need to reshape how we talk to kids about safety."
Starting the Conversation Early
Coleman emphasizes that parents don't need to wait until teens get smartphones to address these issues. "We're already talking to kids about how to treat each other, what to do when you're scared, what the rules are," she says. "We can translate that to this other part of their world."
The key is teaching children to be good digital citizens themselves—not just protecting them from harm, but ensuring they don't cause it. This means conversations about kindness, empathy, respecting privacy, consent, and what to do when they witness harmful behavior online.
"Kids are usually the first to know that another kid is passing around images that violate another youth's privacy," Coleman points out. Teaching them to recognize warning signs and ask for help becomes critical.
When Your Child Becomes a Victim
If your child is targeted by deepfake nudes or other peer-perpetrated abuse, Coleman's first piece of advice is counterintuitive: don't lead with punishment, even if they broke your rules.
"Our first impulse might be 'I told you this would happen,'" she acknowledges. "But in that moment, we want to say: 'I am so glad you told me. Yes, you broke a rule, but what's more important to me is your safety.'"
Practical steps include:
Reassuring your child they're not to blame
Reporting to local police (it's still illegal even when perpetrated by minors)
Contacting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's cyber tip line
Using their "Take It Down" program to remove illegal material
Seeking professional support for both your child and yourself
Calling Stop It Now!'s confidential helpline for guidance
The Other Child Deserves Help Too
Perhaps the most challenging aspect is remembering that the perpetrator is also a child who needs intervention. "We do want to remember that they are a child and they need help," Coleman stresses. "We want to address children's behaviors that can be harmful through a developmental lens."
Most youth who create deepfake nudes aren't predators—they're kids with poor impulse control, unlimited access to powerful technology, and insufficient education about digital ethics and consent. Early intervention prevents escalation and helps them understand the harm they've caused.
Schools Must Step Up
Coleman advocates for comprehensive prevention programs that involve administrators, staff, parents, and students. "Training that doesn't include decision makers and leaders can be nothing more than a one-shot effort," she warns.
Effective prevention requires ongoing conversations in classrooms, PTA meetings, and orientations. Schools need clear policies—not punishment models—that address how they'll gather information, inform parents, involve professionals, and support all children involved.
Knowledge Over Fear
The bottom line? We can't protect children from every risk, but we can equip them with tools to navigate their increasingly complex digital world. That means honest conversations, modeling healthy online behavior as adults, and creating environments where kids feel safe asking for help—even when they've made mistakes.
Because when it comes to protecting children, knowledge works better than fear ever will.
Resources: Visit stopitnow.org for parent resources and training, or whatsok.org for youth-focused information. Both offer confidential helplines.