Jenna Ortega Opens Up About Harmful Effects of AI and Social Media

Jenna Ortega recently disclosed troubling experiences with artificial intelligence (AI) and social media during an interview on The New York Times podcast, released on August 24. The Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actress, 21, described the horrible impact these technologies have had on her life and career, beginning when she was subjected to explicit content involving her image as a teen. This is prepared by SSP.

"I hate AI," Ortega stated emphatically during the podcast. She recounted, "Did I like being 14 and making a Twitter account... and seeing dirty edited content of me as a child? No. It's terrifying. It's corrupt." Ortega criticized the technology's potential for misuse, echoing her anger and discomfort from reliving these experiences.

Despite her negative experiences, Ortega acknowledged the positive aspects of AI, such as its impressive ability to detect breast cancer before it progresses, stating, "That's beautiful. Let’s keep it to that." However, she lamented how easily such technology can be distorted for nefarious purposes.

During the podcast, Ortega revealed she encountered AI-manipulated pornographic images of herself as a minor, which first occurred when she was 12 and opened a direct message containing an unsolicited photo of a man's genitals. These traumatic experiences only escalated after the release of Wednesday, leading to a decision to delete her X (formerly Twitter) account. Her account initially aimed to bolster her public image, but it quickly became a source of distress due to inappropriate and invasive messages.

Ortega explained, "One of the first actually, the first DM that I ever opened myself... was just the beginning of what was to come. I ended up deleting it about two, three years ago because the influx of these absurd images and photos after [Wednesday] had come out. They're repulsive, and it was unnecessary." Despite people advising her to stay online to build her career, she finally decided to cut ties with the platform for her mental well-being, stating, "I just woke up one day and thought, 'Oh, I don't need this anymore.' So I dropped it." Ortega acknowledged that she is still learning to protect herself from online harassment and the darker aspects of social media.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is scheduled for theatrical release on September 6, 2024.