October 2026: Puberty Guidance from Dr. Cara Natterson
Culture Reframed is the premier science-based, global organization working to stop the emotional, behavioral, and sexual harms of pornography to children and youth. Join our online community to receive updates on our work, announcements of upcoming events, and the latest news related to pornography and youth.
Yes, “nudify” apps are a real thing—and deepfake nudes are already part of young people’s digital lives. Nearly half of all teens have seen these AI-generated images, typically created without the person’s knowledge or consent.
As a cultural anthropologist, I study how technology and culture shape young people’s lives. What concerns me about these apps is not just the (very real) harm they cause, but what they reveal about a wider culture that normalizes pornography, sexualizes women and girls, and teaches young people that sexual exploitation is acceptable.
In this issue, we share our first Hot Topics article, where I break down how these apps work, why they have become so widespread, and what parents, educators, and other adults can do to prevent harm and support young people when it occurs. We’re also sharing highlights from our recent conversation with pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson about what young people are navigating during puberty, along with resources to help adults foster honest, supportive conversations.
One of the best ways to help us confront these public health issues is through monthly giving. Join our Give the Gift of Resilience campaign to help sustain our research, education, and free resources—and build a healthier future for young people.
Thank you for being part of this community.
— Dr. Eric Silverman
Research Associate, Culture Reframed
🔥 Hot Topics: Understanding ‘Nudify’ Apps and the Deepfakes They Create
“Nudify” or “undressing” apps use AI to turn any photo into a realistic fake nude, aka “deepfakes”—no consent, no way to tell it’s fake. These apps have moved from obscure coding forums to mainstream use in just a few years, and the people most affected by them are girls and young women, often in middle and high school.
“In terms of harm to women and girls’ reputations and the detrimental impact on their mental health, there is no difference between an actual nude image and a deepfake,” says Dr. Eric Silverman, a cultural anthropologist and Research Associate at Culture Reframed.
Eric breaks down this trend in the first installment of our Hot Topics series. Learn how deepfake tools work, why they’ve exploded in popularity, and what parents, educators, and other adults in young people’s lives can do, both to prevent harm and to respond if it’s already happened.
Give the Gift of Resilience
Help sustain the free resources and renowned programs that help young people grow up with healthy, confident views of themselves and their relationships. Give the Gift of Resilience by setting up a recurring donation to Culture Reframed.
Your monthly gift means we can count on steady support to keep this work moving forward. Recurring gifts provide more reliable funding, lower operating costs, and are the most sustainable source of income for a small but mighty nonprofit like ours.
From now until December 31, we’re seeking $20,000 in annual giving, contributed through recurring monthly donations. Join us in challenging the industries shaping our culture and promising a healthier future for young people.
Join a Candid Virtual Meeting with Gail and Mandy
💻 🧡 When you set up a monthly donation of $20 or more during our campaign, you’ll be on the list for a candid, meaningful virtual conversation with Culture Reframed’s Dr. Gail Dines and Dr. Mandy Sanchez in January 2027!
What Kids Are Really Navigating During Puberty
Puberty and exposure to pornography and hypersexualized content are starting earlier than many parents expect.
At our recent Reframing the Conversation webinar, pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson explained that today’s average onset of puberty is between ages 8 and 9 for girls and between 9 and 10 for boys. At the same time, they are being exposed to pornography before their brains and bodies know how to process it.
“These kids are not looking for this content. It comes looking for them,” Cara said. “The fifth-grade group chat can devolve into sending nudes. Porn sites are one click away on a Discord server, on Pinterest, on Google Maps.”
Read more highlights and watch the full conversation with Cara to learn how parents and caregivers can support their young people in a digital age.
🎧 The P-Word Podcast: Beyond ‘The Talk’
Whether you’re raising, teaching, or supporting young people, The P-Word Podcast offers essential insights into the cultural forces shaping the next generation.
Hosted by Drs. Gail Dines and Mandy Sanchez, each episode explores what’s happening in our hypersexualized culture—and how we can work together to create safer digital environments and help young people develop healthy, respectful, and egalitarian views of relationships, sex, and intimacy.
Listen to the first two episodes and follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Upcoming Events
Take a look at where you’ll find our team in the coming months:
New York State Children’s Alliance 2026 Leadership Conference
October 26–28 | Saratoga Springs, NY
This conference provides professional skills in prevention, recognition, assessment, and treatment of all forms of child maltreatment to CAC professionals and multidisciplinary team members. Dr. Mandy Sanchez will deliver the opening keynote, “Growing Up in a Pornified, Nudified Culture: Emerging Trends, Harms to Youth, and Resources for MDTs.”
JuST Conference
October 27–29 | Washington, DC
This conference provides practical knowledge and actionable responses to raise awareness and ultimately end juvenile sex trafficking (JuST) in local communities. Dr. Gail Dines will present one of our new talks, “OnlyFans: Where Social Media and Pornography Meet Trafficking.”
Heal Young Minds Conference
November 13 | Virtual
During this online convening, child- and family-serving professionals will learn how to recognize possible impacts of pornography exposure, assess for trauma and problematic sexual behaviors, ask sensitive questions without increasing shame, and apply practical interventions with children and caregivers. Dr. Gail Dines and Dr. Mandy Sanchez will speak on a panel with conference organizers about how pornography exposure is shaping children’s expectations of relationships, consent, and intimacy.
What Others Are Saying
California Governor Signs Laws Aimed at Protecting Kids From Risks of Social Media, AI Chatbots (AP News)
The laws will penalize large social media companies if their platforms are found negligent in harming children, regulate addictive feeds and require risk assessments. Read more.
Deepfakes at Schools Overwhelmingly Target Girls and Women – and Most Involve Explicit Content (CyberNews)
Cybernews analyzed education-related incidents recorded in Resemble AI’s Global Deepfake Incident Database to understand who is being targeted, who is creating the content, and where these cases are happening. Read more.
Deepfakes in Education: Cyberbullying in the Age of AI (EdTech)
Artificial intelligence-created synthetic images put students and educators at risk. Here’s how districts can identify and remove them. Read more.
Anonymous Men Have Turned Cyberharassment Into a Group Sport—Here’s One Woman’s Side of the Story (Wired)
Hear from the women struggling after being targeted by the burnerverse. Read more.
