Jenna Ortega Voices Concerns Over AI and Online Harassment
- Jenna Ortega shares her experience of being sent fake explicit images of herself from the age of 14.
- Being advised to create a Twitter account to 'build her image' led to receiving 'disgusting' pictures.
- The actress reflects on the challenges of navigating stardom and protecting herself in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, 21-year-old actress Jenna Ortega expressed her apprehensions regarding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, particularly in relation to her past experiences with online harassment. Ortega recounted her unsettling encounters with manipulated images during her early teenage years, stating, “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. It’s wrong.” She highlighted a particularly disturbing incident when, at just 12 years old, she received an unsolicited explicit photo, marking the beginning of her negative experiences online. Ortega, who gained global fame for her role in Netflix's "Wednesday," revealed that the overwhelming influx of inappropriate content led her to delete her Twitter account shortly after the show's release in 2022. “It was disgusting, and it made me feel bad,” she said, explaining that the constant exposure to such material prompted her to step away from social media altogether. “I thought, Oh, I don’t need this anymore. So I dropped it,” she added. The former Disney Channel star has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents, with upcoming projects including the sequel to Tim Burton's classic "Beetlejuice." Ortega, who has navigated the complexities of childhood stardom, reflected on her journey and the challenges of growing up in the public eye. As she continues to evolve both personally and professionally, Ortega remains a thoughtful voice on the implications of technology and its impact on young individuals.