A disturbing new trend is emerging among teenagers: the creation of AI-driven “slander pages” on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, used to mock and sometimes defame teachers. These accounts employ advanced AI tools to generate videos featuring school faculty in highly inappropriate and often offensive scenarios, with the primary goal being virality and shock value.
The Rise of AI-Generated Harassment
These “slander pages” are not simply digital pranks. They represent a dangerous escalation of online bullying, utilizing AI to create convincing yet fabricated content. One example involves manipulating videos to depict school superintendents lip-syncing to provocative songs alongside digitally inserted figures like Jeffrey Epstein, drawing attention through notoriety rather than humor.
The key tool enabling this trend is Viggle AI, an image-to-video platform with over 40 million users. This technology allows anyone to seamlessly superimpose faces onto existing videos, including animating static images into lip-sync performances. Experts at the Global Network on Extremism and Technology have flagged Viggle AI as a potential tool for extremist propaganda, given its capacity for rapid, viral dissemination of harmful content.
From Jokes to Extremism
What began as seemingly harmless “satirical slander” has quickly evolved into more extreme forms of harassment. Some pages use coded language from online subcultures—such as “looksmaxxing” slang from manosphere forums—to amplify insults. Others morph extremist symbols into their memes, depicting teachers in fictional, racially charged scenarios.
In one case, a TikTok account called @crandall.kirkinator spread “slander” so aggressively that it inspired external users with large followings to join the harassment, even prompting administrators to publicly address the issue. The account was briefly deleted after teachers were reportedly harassed offline, only to reappear days later before being permanently removed.
Social Media Platforms Respond (Slowly)
Meta (Instagram) and TikTok claim to prohibit hateful conduct and harassment, stating that they have removed violating content and implemented automated detection systems. However, the sheer volume of content being generated makes enforcement difficult, and the pages continue to pop up under new names and formats.
The Perspective of Creators
The anonymous admin behind one such page, @thewyliefiles, admits to using controversial figures like Epstein and Netanyahu to boost engagement. Despite acknowledging the potential harm, the creator sees the page as “satirical slander” and expresses concern only about teachers being “doxed” or stalked, not about the content itself.
The Cultural Context and Generational Divide
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam argue that this trend is fueled by a broader cultural shift: a desensitization to privacy and a growing disconnect between online actions and real-world consequences. Younger generations, socialized through constant internet exposure, view their digital identities as fluid and disposable, making them less aware of the potential harm they inflict.
School districts are taking notice, with one Texas district issuing a warning about disciplinary and legal consequences for students identified as responsible. However, the anonymous nature of these pages and the speed at which they spread make accountability challenging.
The rise of AI-fueled “slander pages” highlights the evolving landscape of online harassment, where anonymity, virality, and increasingly sophisticated technology combine to create a potent and dangerous new form of bullying.
