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Home / Media mentions / ISD finds mainstream social media platforms refer users to ‘nudify’ apps

Media Mentions

July 14, 2026

ISD finds mainstream social media platforms refer users to ‘nudify’ apps

Melanie Smith

ISD’s latest report found that major social media platforms are referring users to sites where they can generate nonconsensual intimate imagery through ‘nudify’ apps.

WIRED’s recent article heavily features ISD’s research, which found that a significant amount of referral traffic does not come from unregulated online communities but from mainstream social media platforms: a finding that appears to be in direct conflict with their policies prohibiting sexually explicit content.

The outlet spoke to Melanie Smith, ISD UK Senior Director of Policy & Research, Information Operations about YouTube’s role as a top driver in traffic to nudify sites.

“It wasn’t just that YouTube was a passive source (of referral traffic),” Melanie said. “In a lot of these cases, it was facilitating the use of these tools as well.”

Melanie noted that YouTube’s policies prohibit posting sexually explicit content, as well as links to or advertising for sexually explicit websites.
“In theory that should cover nonconsensual imagery and revenge porn, or nude photo leaks, but it doesn’t seem like that’s being enforced comprehensively,” Melanie said.
Melanie also noted the unexpected motivations behind the use of nudify tools, which are not necessarily “sexual in nature.”
“A lot of the requests were about getting people fired from jobs and compromising their livelihoods and lives in nefarious ways.”

The full article is available on WIRED.

Featured publication

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Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Abuse

High risk, small platforms: Understanding synthetic non-consensual intimate imagery and community norms on 4chan

ISD Contributors

Melanie Smith
Senior Director of Policy & Research, Information Operations

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