SYNTHETIC BODIES: An Exploration of Reddit Community Posts on Generative AI Sexual Content

Abstract

As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technologies become increasingly accessible, emerging forms of GAI sexual content (GAI-SC), including pornography, deepfakes, sexual conversations, and other sexually explicit material, have been produced, circulated, and discussed across online environments. Existing research has examined aspects of this technology; however, limited sociological research has explored how GAI-SC is discussed in online environments. The thesis aims to identify the thematic categories of initial user posts across the Reddit platform (RQ1), examine their frequency (RQ2), and analyze how users position GAI-SC (RQ3). A total of 310 Reddit posts were analyzed using a sequential mixed methods content analysis; an inductive qualitative approach was employed, followed by a manual quantitative approach. The theoretical framework combines multiple perspectives.
Digital sociology provides the broader sociological foundation for understanding Reddit as a digital environment where users shape the meaning and use of GAI-SC. Framing theory provides the primary interpretive lens, while participatory culture and symbolic boundary theory explain different processes of discussion within two identified frames of GAI-SC. The findings suggest that posts across Reddit communities regarding GAI-SC are primarily centered on content sharing, technical advice, and personal usage, within the functional frame “Content Use and Production”, rather than the evaluative “Impacts and Consequences” frame. However, when discussion within the evaluative frame occurred, it primarily concerned harm
to women and minors, addiction, and relationship advice. Reddit functions as a digital social space where users participate in developing technological knowledge while simultaneously classifying the social implications of GAI-SC.

Popular Abstract

The increased development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has expanded people’s access to creating synthetic sexual content such as AI pornography, deepfakes, and sexual conversations with chatbots. With the development of these GAI sexual content (GAI-SC) options, online communities have emerged where individuals discuss this technology. There is limited research on GAI-SC regarding the scale and variance of everyday discussions. This thesis examines how GAI-SC is discussed across Reddit subreddits to better understand the range of topics surrounding this growing field of GAI technology.

The study analyzed 310 publicly accessible Reddit posts collected from 154 subreddits between October 2025 and March 2026. The aim was to first identify thematic categories through inductive qualitative content analysis and then examine the frequency of categories and recurring patterns of discussion through manual quantitative content analysis. After coding the initial posts, framing theory was used and two broad frames of discussion were interpreted: the functional “Content Use and Production” and the evaluative “Impacts and Consequences.” The findings suggest that discussions across Reddit involving GAI-SC are most often centered on sharing the content, production practices of users, technical advice, and personal usage. These discussions demonstrate how users often exchanged knowledge and contributed to the development of GAI-SC through the online community space. However, users also positioned discussion around morality, harm, responsibility, and regulation. When these discussions occurred, they often focused on harms toward women and minors, as well as implications related to addiction and intimate relationships.

Reddit functions as a space for collaboration, circulation, and classification of GAI-SC. Ultimately, this research sheds light on the topics of discussion related to GAI-SC across Reddit. The platform is understood as a participatory culture where users discuss technical knowledge, while simultaneously constructing understandings of the social implications surrounding GAI-SC. The thesis argues GAI-SC is not merely a development in AI technology but also a phenomenon shaped through Reddit user communities, platform structure, and online interactions.

• author: Pembleton, Jocelyn Grace
• supervisor: Mimmi Maria Barmark
• organization: Sociology
• course: SOCM05 20261
• year: 2026
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Social Sciences
• keywords: Generative artificial intelligence sexual content · Reddit · Inductive qualitative content analysis · Manual quantitative content analysis · Framing theory · Participatory culture
• language: English
• id: 9250829
• date added to LUP: 2026-09-11 13:13:26
• date last changed: 2026-09-11 13:13:26