AP Special Report Spotlight Education The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press Jan 3, 2026 Jan 3, 2026 Updated Mar 13, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Schools face a growing problem of students using artificial intelligence to transform innocent images of classmates into sexually explicit deepfakes.kAm%96 72==@FE 7C@> E96 DAC625 @7 E96 >2?:AF=2E65 A9@E@D 2?5 G:56@D 42? 4C62E6 2 ?:89E>2C6 7@C E96 G:4E:>D]k^AmkAm%96 492==6?86 7@C D49@@=D H2D 9:89=:89E65 E9:D 72== H96? px\86?6C2E65 ?F56 :>286D DH6AE E9C@F89 2 {@F:D:2?2 >:55=6 D49@@=] %H@ 3@JD F=E:>2E6=J H6C6 492C865[ 3FE ?@E 367@C6 @?6 @7 E96 G:4E:>D H2D 6IA6==65 7@C DE2CE:?8 2 7:89E H:E9 2 3@J D96 244FD65 @7 4C62E:?8 E96 :>286D @7 96C 2?5 96C 7C:6?5D]k^Am kAm“(9:=6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 2=E6C :>286D 92D 366? 2G2:=23=6 7@C 564256D[ E96 C:D6 @7 p]x] 92D >256 :E 62D:6C 7@C 2?J@?6 E@ 2=E6C @C 4C62E6 DF49 :>286D H:E9 =:EE=6 E@ ?@ EC2:?:?8 @C 6IA6C:6?46[” {27@FC496 !2C:D9 $96C:77 rC2:8 (63C6 D2:5 :? 2 ?6HD C6=62D6] “%9:D :?4:56?E 9:89=:89ED 2 D6C:@FD 4@?46C? E92E 2== A2C6?ED D9@F=5 255C6DD H:E9 E96:C 49:=5C6?]”k^Am People are also reading… Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race The future of fishing at Smith Mountain Lake could hinge on this decision Review: Too many films inspire janky ‘Bride!’ How to vote early in Franklin County for Virginia redistricting amendment Rocky Mount businesses to host pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day ‘Broken public trust’: Community speaks out against board’s decision to close Stewartsville SML Gives Day raises nearly $400K for nonprofits in Franklin, Bedford counties Ferrum College wants former coach's discrimination lawsuit dismissed Franklin County School Board requests $8.9 million in additional funding Osprey 10K and 5K return to Smith Mountain Lake State Park in April Roanoke airport accepting donations for TSA as partial shutdown continues Franklin County proposes increasing real estate, meals taxes Republicans leave out Trump while stumping against redistricting in Roanoke 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Is modern life eroding our willingness to sacrifice for something greater? | The Ethical Life podcast A school bus carries children at the end of a school day Dec. 11 at Sixth Ward Middle School in Thibodaux, La. 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Here's what that means COLLIN BINKLEY and ANNIE MA Associated Press k9amw2C>7F= EC2F>2k^9amkAmpx 566A72<6D 2C6 5:776C6?E 7C@> EC25:E:@?2= 3F==J:?8 3642FD6 :?DE625 @7 2 ?2DEJ E6IE @C CF>@C[ E96C6 :D 2 G:56@ @C :>286 E92E @7E6? 8@6D G:C2= 2?5 E96? 4@?E:?F6D E@ C6DFC7246[ 4C62E:?8 2 4J4=6 @7 EC2F>2[ p=6I2?56C D2:5]k^AmkAm|2?J G:4E:>D 364@>6 56AC6DD65 2?5 2?I:@FD[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“%96J =:E6C2==J D9FE 5@H? 3642FD6 :E >2<6D :E 766= =:<6[ J@F <?@H[ E96C6’D ?@ H2J E96J 42? 6G6? AC@G6 E92E E9:D :D ?@E C62= — 3642FD6 :E 5@6D =@@< `__T C62=[” 96 D2:5]k^Amk9am!2C6?E2= :?G@=G6>6?Ek^9am kAm!2C6?ED 42? DE2CE E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 3J 42DF2==J 2D<:?8 E96:C <:5D :7 E96J’G6 D66? 2?J 7F??J 72<6 G:56@D @?=:?6[ p=6I2?56C D2:5]k^AmkAm%2<6 2 >@>6?E E@ =2F89 2E D@>6 @7 E96>[ =:<6 q:87@@E 492D:?8 27E6C 9:<6CD[ 96 D2:5] uC@> E96C6[ A2C6?ED 42? 2D< E96:C <:5D[ “w2G6 J@F E9@F89E 23@FE H92E :E H@F=5 36 =:<6 :7 J@F H6C6 :? E9:D G:56@[ 6G6? E96 7F??J @?6n” p?5 E96? A2C6?ED 42? 2D< :7 2 4=2DD>2E6 92D >256 2 72<6 G:56@[ 6G6? 2? :??@4F@FD @?6]k^Am kAm“q2D65 @? E96 ?F>36CD[ x 8F2C2?E66 E96J’== D2J E92E E96J <?@H D@>6@?6[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmx7 <:5D 6?4@F?E6C E9:?8D =:<6 566A72<6D[ E96J ?665 E@ <?@H E96J 42? E2=< E@ E96:C A2C6?ED H:E9@FE 86EE:?8 :? EC@F3=6[ D2:5 {2FC2 %:6C?6J[ E96 7@F?56C 2?5 rt~ @7 %96 $@4:2= x?DE:EFE6[ H9:49 65F42E6D A6@A=6 @? C6DA@?D:3=6 D@4:2= >65:2 FD6 2?5 92D 96=A65 D49@@=D 56G6=@A A@=:4:6D] k^Am kAm$96 FD6D E96 24C@?J> $wxt{s 2D 2 C@25>2A 7@C 9@H E@ C6DA@?5] %96 “$” DE2?5D 7@C “DE@A” 2?5 5@?’E 7@CH2C5] “w” :D 7@C “9F55=6” H:E9 2 ECFDE65 25F=E] %96 “x” :D 7@C “:?7@C>” 2?J D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>D @? H9:49 E96 :>286 :D A@DE65] “t” :D 2 4F6 E@ 4@==64E “6G:56?46[” =:<6 H9@ :D DAC625:?8 E96 :>286[ 3FE ?@E E@ 5@H?=@25 2?JE9:?8] %96 “{” :D 7@C “=:>:E” D@4:2= >65:2 2446DD] %96 “s” :D 2 C6>:?56C E@ “5:C64E” G:4E:>D E@ 96=A]k^Am kAm“%96 724E E92E E92E 24C@?J> :D D:I DE6AD x E9:?< D9@HD E92E E9:D :DDF6 :D C62==J 4@>A=:42E65[” D96 D2:5]k^Am Wellness Seasonal affective disorder is more than feeling sad Janice Schreier Mayo Clinic News Network Education Without affirmative action, elite colleges are prioritizing economic diversity in admissions COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer Education AI may be scoring your college essay. Welcome to the new era of admissions JOCELYN GECKER Associated Press 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Kindergarten readiness varies widely by income, new data shows. 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Education The Education Department is dismantling. Here's what that means COLLIN BINKLEY and ANNIE MA Associated Press
Wellness Seasonal affective disorder is more than feeling sad Janice Schreier Mayo Clinic News Network
Education Without affirmative action, elite colleges are prioritizing economic diversity in admissions COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer
Education AI may be scoring your college essay. Welcome to the new era of admissions JOCELYN GECKER Associated Press
Kindergarten readiness varies widely by income, new data shows. Cities stepping in to help Immense disparities exist in whether parents across the country report their child as ready for kindergarten, new data from the National Surve…
How artificial intelligence became real estate's new secret weapon From marketing to contracts, AI is changing how real estate professionals work.
A1 Minute! March 17, 2026: Court of Champions Bracket Challenge; Petersburg wins Class 3 state title; Virginia Women Veterans Week
A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month
A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month
