A study commissioned by the children's commissioner for England has revealed that children are being exposed to online pornography from as young as nine. The research, based on a nationally representative survey of over 1,000 16-21-year-olds, found that a quarter first saw pornography while still in primary school, and by age 13, half had encountered it.
Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza described the findings as 'deeply concerning'. The report links early exposure to low self-esteem and harmful views on sex and relationships. Of the 18-21-year-olds surveyed, 79% had seen pornography involving sexual violence as children, and nearly half of young people believe girls expect sex to involve physical aggression.
One 12-year-old girl told Dame Rachel that her boyfriend had 'strangled' her during their first kiss, having seen it in pornography and 'thought it normal'. The commissioner urged every adult in a responsible position to take the findings seriously and called for the Online Safety Bill to protect children from internet pornography.
The study identified Twitter as the primary source of pornography for young people, with 41% accessing it there, followed by dedicated porn sites, Instagram, Snapchat, and search engines. Dame Rachel emphasised that online pornography is not equivalent to a 'top-shelf' magazine and encouraged parents to talk to their children about it.
The Online Safety Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, is due to be debated this week. The NSPCC and safety technology providers have backed calls for robust age-assurance measures on platforms where pornographic material can be viewed.
