May 2025: What to Do About AI & Child Sexual Exploitation
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.
Mental Health Awareness Month is an excellent opportunity to brush up on the direct harm of pornography on young people and to reflect on our roles as parents, educators, professionals, and concerned citizens to foster a healthier world for youth — both online and offline.
At Culture Reframed, we recognize that young people also have an invaluable voice in reframing the conversation about pornography. There is transformative power in peer-to-peer education to foster empathy, critical thinking, confidence, and empowerment to develop and hone the knowledge and skills they need to confidently navigate the online world. For these reasons, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Youth Advisory Council! Learn more below.
This month, we’re also sharing expert insights on AI-fueled child sexual exploitation and a timely op-ed from Dr. Gail Dines and Ashley Judd on the Netflix hit series Adolescence.
— Dr. Mandy Sanchez
Director of Programming, Culture Reframed
Youth Advisory Council Gives Young People a Voice in the Fight Against Pornified Media
We are expanding our educational initiatives by launching a Youth Advisory Council! The addition reflects growing demand among young people for resources and information on how to develop resilience and resistance to hypersexualized media and pornography, and help their peers do the same. In this article, Dr. Mandy Sanchez and Dr. Gail Dines share inspiration for and goals with the new initiative.
How AI Apps Are Fueling Child Sexual Exploitation—and What We Can Do About It
In this conversation, cultural anthropologist and Culture Reframed Research Associate Eric Silverman discusses the technological capabilities to make fake and modified sexual images of children and young people, the psychological and social impact on victims, and the urgent need for better digital safeguards and porn-critical education. Plus, learn what a truly liberating or “sex positive” culture looks like and access parent and educator resources to discuss and counteract the harms of sexualized media.
Gail Dines and Ashley Judd Discuss “Adolescence” — and Porn’s Role in Violence Against Women
In case you missed it, Culture Reframed Founder and CEO Dr. Gail Dines and actor, activist, and Culture Reframed ambassador Ashley Judd were featured in a new article for Ms. Magazine to discuss the breakout Netflix mini-series Adolescence. Together, they explore the dangerous influence of the manosphere on boys and the connection to pornography — what they consider the “one missing element” in the show.
Upcoming Events
Here’s where you can find the Culture Reframed team next month:
2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress
July 13–16 | Washington, D.C.
Experts from across disciplines will explore how digital media use impacts the social, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and physical development of children and adolescents. Dr. Mandy Sanchez will join the Cyber Risk and Violence panel.
Krimes Against Kids Annual Conference
July 22–25 | Orlando, Florida
This event includes over 50 workshops for law enforcement personnel, child protective service personnel, victim advocates, attorneys, therapists, counselors, prosecutors, and social workers. Dr. Mandy Sanchez will deliver a workshops on “Growing up in a Porn Culture” and “Connecting Social Media, Gaming, Porn, & Sex Trafficking.”
International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference
September 17–19 | Virtual
This virtual conference aims to unite the global community to learn, connect, and collaborate to combat human trafficking and promote social justice. Dr. Gail Dines and Dr. Mandy Sanchez will deliver the presentation, “Social Media, Porn, & Artificial Intelligence (AI): The New Faces of Trafficking.”
What others are saying
How to Protect Young Children From Seeing Pornography (NPR)
Most children encounter violent and degrading pornography earlier than parents expect. Open communication, monitoring, and proactive safety measures are essential for the well-being of kids today. Read more.
‘I Don’t Date at All Now’: One Woman’s Journey Into the Darkest Corners of the Manosphere (The Guardian)
Jess Davies, who experienced image-based sexual abuse at the age of 15, is now a women’s rights campaigner and author working to expose the normalization of violence against women in digital spaces. Read more.
Teens, Social Media and Mental Health (Pew Research Center)
Most teens credit social media with feeling more connected to friends. Still, roughly 1 in 5 say social media sites hurt their mental health, and an increasing number think they harm people their age. Read more.
The Notable Absence in “Adolescence” (CEASE – UK)
Gemma Kelly, Center to End All Sexual Exploitation Head of Policy and Public Affairs, reflects on the lack of conversation around pornography in the Netflix series. Read more.
Help Us Make the Internet Safe for Kids
In this handy fact sheet, we share recent research on the emotional, behavioral, and sexual harms of pornography to children, adolescents, and teens.
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