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Would You Share a Fake Photo? Thinking About Kindness Online
Imagine this.
You wake up one morning and discover that someone at school has shared a funny picture of you online. At first, it looks real. Your friends are talking about it, people are commenting on it, and the image is spreading quickly.
But there is one big problem:
The photo isn't real.
Someone used artificial intelligence (AI) to create it.
Stories in the news have highlighted a growing problem where AI-generated images, often called "deepfakes," are being used to embarrass, bully, or make fun of other people online.[1] As AI tools become easier to access and use, child safety experts have raised concerns about their impact on young people and the need for greater digital responsibility.[2][3]
This raises an important ethical question:
Just because you can create something online, should you?
At Ethics 4 Kids, we believe that strong character helps young people navigate difficult decisions, both in person and online. Technology may change, but values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, empathy, and kindness remain the same. When children learn to think ethically, they are better prepared to make good choices, even when faced with new technologies and situations.
What Is a Deepfake?
A deepfake is a fake image, video, or audio recording created with artificial intelligence. These tools can make it appear that someone said or did something that never actually happened.
Some people use AI tools to create artwork, educational projects, or harmless entertainment. However, problems arise when someone uses these tools to trick, embarrass, or hurt another person.
Years ago, creating realistic fake images required special training and expensive software. Today, many AI tools can generate convincing images in just seconds, making this technology widely accessible.[1]
The technology itself is not good or bad.
What matters is how people choose to use it.
When a "Joke" Isn't Funny
Many people who post hurtful content online defend themselves by saying, "It was just a joke."
But ethical choices are not judged only by what we intended. They are also judged by how they affect others.
Imagine a student creates a fake picture of a classmate and shares it in a group chat. The creator laughs. Some friends laugh too.
But what about the person in the picture?
They may feel embarrassed, angry, scared, or humiliated. They may worry about who has seen the image or what people believe about them.
The emotional impact can be very real, even when the image itself is fake.[1]
At Ethics 4 Kids, we encourage children to consider not only their own feelings but also the feelings of others. One of the most important ethical questions a person can ask is:
"How would I feel if someone did this to me?"
This simple question helps build empathy, which is the ability to understand and care about another person's experience.
A joke stops being funny when someone gets hurt.
Why Honesty Matters Online
Honesty is one of the most important character traits both offline and online.
When we tell the truth, people learn they can trust us. Trust helps friendships grow. Trust helps classrooms function. Trust helps families and communities work together.
Deepfakes create confusion because they make it harder for people to know what is real and what is fake.[1]
Imagine seeing a picture of someone doing something embarrassing. You might believe the image without questioning it.
Later, you discover it was completely fake.
Not only has the person in the picture been hurt, but everyone who believed the image was misled.
Honesty builds trust.
Deception breaks it.
This is why Ethics 4 Kids teaches that ethical behavior is about more than following rules. It is about becoming a person others can trust to do the right thing, even when nobody is watching.
Experts have increasingly emphasized the need to teach children how to think critically about digital information and use technology responsibly.[2][3]
The Power of a Single Click
Sometimes people think that creating harmful content is worse than sharing it.
But sharing can be just as powerful.
Every time someone forwards a picture, reposts a video, or clicks "share," they help that content spread further.
A single click can expose hundreds or even thousands of people to something that may be false or hurtful.
Before sharing something online, take a moment to ask yourself:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Could it hurt someone?
Would I share it if the person were standing next to me?
Am I helping or harming?
These questions can help us make wiser and more responsible choices.
What Would Ethics 4 Kids Teach?
When students encounter situations involving deepfakes, online rumors, or digital bullying, Ethics 4 Kids encourages them to think through ethical questions before acting.
For example:
Is this respectful?
Is this honest?
How might this affect another person?
Would I make the same choice if everyone knew it was me?
Am I acting responsibly?
These questions help children develop ethical decision-making skills that can guide them throughout their lives.
Character is not about being perfect.
Character is about choosing what is right, even when it would be easier to follow the crowd.
As AI becomes a larger part of daily life, experts continue to stress that children need guidance, safety measures, and ethical decision-making skills to navigate these technologies successfully.[2][3]
Choosing Digital Kindness
Technology itself is not good or bad. What matters is how people choose to use it. AI can help people learn, create, and solve problems, but it can also be used in ways that harm others.[1][2]
Digital kindness means treating people online with the same respect we would show them face-to-face. It means considering the effects our words and actions may have on others. It means being honest, responsible, and compassionate.
If you see a fake image being shared, you have choices.
You can choose not to spread it.
You can support the person being targeted.
You can tell a trusted adult if someone is being bullied.
You can choose to be part of the solution instead of the problem.
Small actions often have big consequences.
Think About It
The next time you see a photo or video online, remember that not everything you see is real.[1]
And if you ever have the ability to create or share something about another person, pause for a moment and ask yourself:
Am I using this technology to help someone or to hurt someone?
While artificial intelligence may be one of the newest technologies in our world, the solution to many of its challenges is surprisingly old-fashioned.
Honesty.
Empathy.
Respect.
Responsibility.
At Ethics 4 Kids, we help children build these ethical foundations so they can become thoughtful digital citizens and compassionate members of their communities. Technology will continue to evolve, but strong character will always matter.
Because the best way to use any new technology is by remembering an old lesson:
Treat people with dignity, both online and offline.
Discussion Questions
If you knew a picture of a classmate was fake, would you tell others?
Is sharing a fake image just as harmful as creating one? Why or why not?
How does honesty help people trust one another?
What would you do if a friend sent you an embarrassing deepfake of another student?
How can kids use technology in positive and respectful ways?
References
[1] State of Surveillance. AI Deepfakes Are Now a School Bullying Tool. The Kids Are the Test Case.https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/wsj-ai-deepfake-nudes-school-bullying-kids-2026/
[2] Reuters. Ex-Google Safety Chief Warns AI Could Harm Children More Than Social Media Did.https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ex-google-safety-chief-warns-ai-could-harm-children-more-than-social-media-did-2026-09-22/
[3] Common Sense Media. Justification for AI Safeguards for Kids 2026.https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/featured-content/files/justification-for-ai-safeguards-for-kids-2026.pdf
[4] Ethics 4 Kids. Character education principles emphasizing honesty, empathy, respect, responsibility, and ethical decision-making. https://www.ethics4kids.org
