The Associated Press recently reported on the disturbing rise of deepfake bullying that is occurring in schools throughout the country. AI-generated technology allows users to maliciously alter classmates' images and create videos of them. AP writer Heather Hollingsworth mentions an incident in a Louisiana middle school last year in which AI-generated nude images were created by two boys. Hollingsworth called this "a nightmare for the victims" due to how these fabricated photos quickly circulate across social media and go viral. And it's not just students that schools have to worry about. Hollingsworth also stated that a Texas fifth-grade teacher used AI "to create child pornography of his students." Educators misusing AI and becoming nasty predators who produce child sexual abuse material is both frightening and repulsive.

When thinking about the sadistic nature of deepfake bullying, it is blatantly clear that the days of boys innocently teasing girls or pulling on their pigtails and braids in elementary and middle school are long gone. Deepfake bullying makes the bullying on the playground during my early grade school years almost seem innocuous. If a fight broke out, you were promptly taken to the principal's office, and in more serious cases, parents were called in to speak with teachers. The teachers I had did not tolerate naughtiness or disrespect, and discipline was swift for those who dared to misbehave. Most of the time, bullying issues were resolved and did not linger. Another form of bullying that I remember from middle and high school years was the scribbling of insults on bathroom walls. These hateful notes were similar to the mean messages that today's bullies post on Instagram and Snapchat. But bathroom walls were eventually cleaned, whereas heartless verbal abuse is ongoing through social media.

As deepfake technology rapidly evolves, schools will have extreme difficulty monitoring students' use of these devious AI-generated tools. Kids can simply download deepfakes on apps and post them on social media platforms. It will be a daunting task even for schools with AI policies in place, which may not deter some students who are intent on cruelly harassing their peers. Experts are encouraging parents to talk to their children and warn them about the threats of deepfakes, whose manipulative features further complicate tireless efforts to keep kids safe online. Parental involvement is key, but I also believe the root of spiteful technology and social media use lies in a wounded soul that many teens and kids have. Think about it. What motivates a teen to use a deepfake to alter a classmate's likeness into a false, sexually explicit nude image? You have to question what is continuously occupying his or her attention. What types of music are they listening to? What films and TV shows are they watching? Who are the social media influencers they are following? What type of content are they reading online? Kids who use technology and social media to harm others have critical emotional voids, and this must be addressed by parents, counselors, teachers and, I would also add, ministers. I had wonderful role models in these capacities while growing up, and through the influence of my mother, teachers and pastor, I learned, as Proverbs 4:23 states, to "guard (my) heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life." In this verse, the heart refers to the core of our innermost being. It houses our will, intellect, feelings, and desires. Thus, whatever is in our hearts produces the "issues" — our actions, words and character — that determine the choices and decisions we make in our lives. As a young person, I was very careful to avoid negative outside influences. I made mistakes, as we all did as teens and young adults, but having a firm foundation in Scripture and Christ kept me out of many dangerous emotional pitfalls. I believe that teens using deepfakes and engaging in other forms of social media bullying are hurting inside and have hearts that are crying out for help. We must get to, as the popular saying goes, "the heart of the matter." Some of my English students who have examined social media and bullying in their essays have shared how their faith in God enabled them to overcome depression and anxiety. In one of my 2023 columns, I mentioned the book "Destined for Greatness: 21-Day Devotional for the Broken Hearted," written by my former student Kalie Klett. Kalie shares her testimony of how God heals and restores those suffering from emotional trauma. Kids who are victims of cyberbullying and those who are the perpetrators need a deep spiritual healing and renewal that God graciously provides. It is essential for their well-being and self-worth.

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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