Videos showing people with Down syndrome selling handmade items are going viral on social media, but many of them are actually created using artificial intelligence.
These clips often appear on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram and have gained millions of views.
In these videos, AI-generated characters promote products such as resin lamps, crochet bags, and clay items. They often show emotional stories, claiming they are being bullied or struggling to sell their crafts. The aim is to attract sympathy and encourage users to buy from linked online stores.
Experts and disability advocates say this trend is harmful. They explain that it spreads false and negative ideas about people with Down syndrome and other groups, including elderly and black individuals. Nathan Rowe from Down Syndrome International said the videos rely on pity and unfair stereotypes instead of reality.
Many of these accounts also link to suspicious online shops. Some product reviews appear fake, with repeated or copied text.
Investigations have also found that some items shown in these videos were taken from real creators or copied from existing designs, including products sold through drop shipping platforms.
AI videos also hurt real small business owners with Down syndrome. They believe genuine creators lose attention and sales because fake content is spreading faster online.
Social media companies have removed similar content before, but experts say more action is needed to stop it from spreading again.
Researchers say this trend is growing quickly because AI tools make it very easy to create realistic videos. They also warn that the accounts behind this content are mainly focused on making profit, without thinking about the harm caused.
