A concerning trend that has emerged online is the rise of counterfeit AI-generated pornographic depictions featuring well-known celebrities or semi-popular social media personalities.
The most recent individual impacted by this trend is Bobbi Althoff, a podcast host renowned for her unemotional interviews with celebrities, particularly notable rap artists like Drake, Lil Yachty, and Offset. Alleged “leaked” images of Althoff circulated online, propelling her name to the top of trending topics on X. However, it was swiftly clarified that these images were fabricated using AI technology.
It is crucial to emphasize that Althoff, who has never publicly shared nude photos of herself, is a victim of a significant societal issue that should potentially be deemed criminal if not already classified as such.
Nonetheless, in a society that often sexualizes individuals, particularly women, encouraging them to leverage their physical attributes to gain substantial followings and fame on social media, the buzz surrounding the counterfeit images of Althoff is somewhat unsurprising. A considerable portion of her audience inherently fuels this demand.
Given the nature of her platform, Althoff serves as a cultural influencer with a vast audience extending beyond her podcast. With 7.2 million TikTok followers and 3.1 million Instagram followers, her posts garner thousands of interactions, including likes and comments. Similarly, numerous influencers like her share diverse content ranging from lip-sync performances and comedic sketches to professionally curated material such as travel vlogs, product endorsements, and photo sessions.
However, the primary driver behind the engagement with such social media content remains the influencer’s personality and physical appearance, circling back to the proliferation of AI-generated pornography.
The circulation of AI-generated pornographic materials attains virality due to a substantial segment of followers, predominantly male, who are drawn to social media influencers out of sexual attraction. This demographic actively seeks out provocative and revealing posts akin to those commonly associated with Instagram models and prevalent among most influencers. Essentially, they crave visually appealing, sexually suggestive content.
The interactions between individuals and social media influencers like Althoff epitomize one of the most disconcerting cultural maladies conceivable. Perusing the comments on one of her posts reveals some of the most repugnant remarks imaginable directed at another human being. While distasteful online comments are not novel, it is noteworthy that when an individual profits from their physical appearance, even in seemingly innocuous dance videos, it attracts lascivious and sexually deviant characters on the internet eager to objectify a fresh face.
Regrettably, a substantial portion of internet users fall into this category. Pornography websites received more traffic in 2023 than X, Wikipedia, TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon combined. These same users inundate the comments sections of influencers, including Althoff, projecting their lewd sexual fantasies onto them, anticipating their transition to the league of celebrities and influencers who have publicly shared explicit content. AI-generated imagery serves as a substitute when authentic material is not readily accessible.
