Parents & Caregivers, Do You Know The New Face of Porn: The Age of AI-Generated Adult Content
- The White Hatter
- Jun 4
- 5 min read
CAVEAT - Some of the language used in this article is for adult parents, caregivers, and educators.
For decades, the porn industry has dominated the internet, financially, culturally, and technologically. In 2023, the global adult entertainment market was estimated to be worth over $58.8 billion and is projected to surge to $74 billion by 2030. (1) While much of this content remains geared toward adult audiences, the industry’s influence has increasingly seeped into the online lives of youth and teens, with alarming consequences. The latest twist? A rapid, profitable, and deeply concerning shift toward AI-generated pornography.
The digital door to online pornography is wide open, and youth are walking through it in growing numbers. A 2022 report from Common Sense Media revealed that 73% of teens aged 13 to 17 have seen pornography online. (2) The average age of first exposure is just 12 years old, and 15% said they had seen porn by age 10. (3) At The White Hatter, anecdotally we’ve spoken to children in grades 4 and 5 who openly admitted to actively searching for porn online. This is not rare, it’s not accidental, and It’s happening more frequently.
Even when it is accidental, the damage can be done. Fifty-eight percent of teens reported stumbling upon pornographic content unintentionally, often through pop-ups, banner ads, or being redirected by a seemingly innocent link. However, curiosity is also a powerful force. Many teens that we have spoken with say they deliberately seek out porn for three primary reasons:
Curiosity – What is sex? What does it look like?
Education – In the absence of honest, clear sex education from adults, they turn to porn to learn.
Masturbation aid – A natural part of growing up, now increasingly tied to online stimulation.
Enter AI: The Porn Industry’s New Frontier
Most parents and caregivers are aware that websites like Pornhub are easily accessible (despite being “age-restricted” with nothing more than a click of “Yes, I’m 18”). But fewer parents realize that the adult industry is undergoing a radical transformation, and Artificial Intelligence is at the center of it.
The industry is increasingly relying on AI-generated pornographic content, and the reasons are deeply rooted in economics, legal convenience, and consumer demand. Here’s why this shift is growing so fast:
It’s cheap: AI doesn’t need a trailer, paycheck, or union. Once trained, it can produce limitless explicit content without paying a single human actor.
It’s legally safer: No worries about age verification, consent forms, or the risk of trafficking allegations.
It’s fully customizable: Users can generate content to fit specific body types, scenarios, or fantasies, some of which would be ethically or legally questionable if produced using real people.
It bypasses moderation: Since no “real” people are involved, these videos may temporarily evade takedown filters or platform guidelines.
With advanced AI tools, it’s now possible to generate photorealistic images and videos of synthetic people doing extremely explicit things. Some AI characters look indistinguishable from real human actors, and that’s the point.
Consider the newly created platform FapAI, (4) which boldly markets itself as an AI sex chatbot offering character-based, simulated erotic conversations to meet a users fantasies or fetishes. Its homepage openly says:
“Welcome to the best artificial intelligence (AI) sex chatbot. Our growing collection of characters will excite and thrill you while you chat. The end goal? To make you cum.”
This isn’t hidden in the dark web, it’s a public site with a free trial, a model the porn industry has used for years to lure in new users. While paid access might seem like a barrier, youth are incredibly savvy. We’ve seen teens trade gift cards for cash, use prepaid debit cards, and even connect PayPal accounts to circumvent parental controls and access paid pornographic content. (5)
Here’s the kicker, Apps like FapAI can be “sideloaded”, installed directly from a website, bypassing the Apple App Store or Google Play’s safeguards. Unless parents are proactively monitoring their child's phone, this kind of content may exist undetected in hidden folders or under disguised app icons.
Fact - AI porn is here, and it’s evolving faster than most safeguards can catch up. So what can parents and caregivers do?
Start talking early, often, and honestly.
Youth are becoming sexual beings, it’s a normal part of development. But if we don’t guide them, the porn industry will. And it won’t do it in a healthy, respectful, or informed way. Conversations about sex, consent, fantasy, and online boundaries need to be frequent and judgment-free.
Teach the difference between pornography and real-world relationships.
AI-generated porn, like traditional porn, distorts expectations of intimacy, pleasure, body image, and consent. Make sure your child understands that porn is not sex ed. It’s not real. It’s a fantasy, now produced by algorithms designed to keep them watching, clicking, and coming back.
Know what’s on their device, and how they might hide it.
Don’t just look for obvious apps. Learn about sideloading. Explore “vault apps” that disguise porn behind fake calculators or folders. Use parental controls where able, but more importantly, build trust so your child will come to you when they encounter something they don’t understand.
Watch for red flags.
Unusual online purchases, sudden secrecy around devices, or a change in behaviour may be signs of problematic content use. Stay involved. Ask questions.
Promote critical thinking.
Whether it’s deepfakes, AI influencers, or porn chatbots, kids need to develop the ability to pause and ask: Is this real? Should I trust this? What am I being sold here, and why?
The elephant in the room is undeniable - the adult porn industry, now increasingly powered by AI, is increasingly drawing in youth and teens, not by accident, but by design. The line between fiction and reality is blurring, and while AI may seem like a technological innovation, in this case, it poses serious risks for how our children understand sex, self-worth, and relationships.
Remember parents, caregivers, and educators, it’s not enough to say, “Not my kid.” If we don’t actively shape their understanding of healthy human sexuality, an algorithm trained on the world’s darkest sexual preferences will do it for us.
Now more than ever, we need leadership grounded not in fear, but in facts, open dialogue, and meaningful connection. It’s through informed conversations, not alarm, that we empower others to take thoughtful action. Our hope is that this article becomes a catalyst for exactly that, sparking constructive discussions that bring families, educators, and communities together to better navigate today’s digital challenges surrounding the challenges and benefits of AI with clarity and confidence.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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