More Teens Than You Think Have Been ‘Deepfake’ Targets

AI porn targeting teens is alarmingly common. PLUS: The growing risk to American scientific research, and a feminist mom asks "how do we raise good men"?

Hi Readers!

• I’m Christopher Pepper, an award-winning health educator and journalist. During the week, I send out editions of my Teen Health Today newsletter that are free for all to read - the most recent is “What Does “Intersex” Mean?”

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In this edition:

• Why Everyone Needs a Crash Course in Gender and Sexuality 101

• More Teens Than You Think Have Been ‘Deepfake’ Targets

• How Do Young Men See the World? We Asked Them.

• Gen Z Boys’ Attitudes To Feminism Are More Nuanced Than Negative

• Your Questions About Fentanyl, Answered

• I’m A Mother Of Sons — How Do We Raise Good Men?

• NIH Reels With Fear, Uncertainty About Future Of Scientific Research

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Why Everyone Needs a Crash Course in Gender and Sexuality 101 (Sexual Health Wealth)

Our brains are wired to prioritize emotional resonance over factual accuracy—a cognitive bias that affects us all. When information aligns with our existing beliefs or fears, it triggers a sense of validation that feels reassuring, making us less likely to question its accuracy. This is especially powerful when the message comes from someone we trust or admire. I see this in my work with sexually transmitted infections daily.

We all crave validation. When someone in a position of influence validates our pre-existing ideas and values, we feel reassured and comforted. Therein lies the danger underpinning today’s misinformation landscape and much of American cultural and political discourse: many people struggle to distinguish fact from fiction. They wouldn’t recognize a credible resource if it hit them in the face. Too committed to being right rather than being open. READ MORE

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