You may have seen a surge in AI generated videos recently on your timeline. The main reason for this is a new app from OpenAI called surge. It is a Tiktok-style app where all of the videos are made with AI. The crazy part is that the videos are much more realistic than anyone had anticipated. Those videos are getting reuploaded on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and many people incorrectly believe that they’re real. It is important for parents to be aware of these fake videos so they can protect themselves and their family against misinformation on the internet.
https://www.tiktok.com/@openai/video/7555943311534460174
What is Sora by OpenAI?
Sora is a new app that was recently released by OpenAI. It uses artificial intelligence to generate short videos that are very realistic. You can use your own image and voice to generate yourself in these videos.
The Sora app feels similar to Tiktok, except all of the videos on there are generated using AI. The app lets users remix and personalize videos by adding themselves and friends as cameos with their permission. While the app adds a watermark to show that it is AI-generated, people are not familiar with the watermark yet, so they are often believe these videos are real.
How to Sign up for Sora
Currently, the Sora app is only available on iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads. You can find the app in the app store, but it is only available in a couple of countries at the moment. Furthermore, once you download the app you need an invite code to sign up. If you do not have an invite code, you will have to wait until a friend invites you, or until the invite phase is over. You can also just request access, and some users have been able to sign up without an invite code.
Who Can Sign Up for a Sora Account?
Sora is currently in an invite-only phase, so you need an invite code before creating an account. There are also some additional restrictions on who can sign up. You need to enter your age, as it is only available for people over the age of 18. You also need to be in the United States or Canada to create an account.
What Should Parents Know About the Sora App?
As we’ve discussed many times on YourTeen Magazine, it is very important for parents to keep up with technology to get a good understanding of dangers their teens might be exposed to. Parents should realize that it is becoming very difficult to tell when a video has been generated using AI, so they should be extra skeptical of what they see online.
While the Sora app only allows people above the age of 18 to sign up, the videos generated on the app get reposted on other parts of the internet, so many teens have been able to see those types of videos. It is a good idea for parents to have a discussion with their teens about fake videos, and not to fully believe everything they see. Let your teen know that they can always come to you if they want to talk about something they saw online.
As always, parents should carefully monitor what their teens see and do online. The age of AI videos is yet another aspect to this that parents must be aware of.
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— Wild content (@NoCapMediaa) October 3, 2025
Safety Controls Built In
OpenAI understands that AI generated videos can be dangerous, so they have taken a couple of safety precautions while releasing the Sora app. First and foremost is the watermarking on the videos. Every video created in Sora includes a watermark to indicate that it is made with AI. However, if you’re not familiar with the watermark, you may not realize what the watermark is. You should look at the watermark and learn to spot it quickly on videos.
Another safety control is the prompt and content moderation. It is prohibited to create content that includes graphic violence, hate speech, or sexual content. While the system blocks these prompts, some people may find some ways around these blockers.
OpenAI also restricts the use of copyrighted material in their video generation tools. Users are not supposed to be able to generate content that infringes copyright. However, some users have been able to generate copyrighted cartoon characters such as Spongebob being pulled over for speeding.
Lastly, Sora is an adult-only platform. Children are not allowed to create accounts for the app. However, it is still possible that some teens find a way to access the platform by borrowing the account of an older sibling or friend. For this reason, it is important for parents to be aware of the platform and the potential risks.