Pornography

Pornography – what is the worry?

Just 6 clicks away

Research shows that anyone on the internet can be 6 clicks or less away from seeing inappropriate or harmful content on the internet.

Try it out …

Type in something totally appropriate that your child may search for. Follow links and see where it takes you.
The sole purpose of these sites is to make money, not to protect children from harmful exposure and whilst illegal sites are shut down as quickly as possible it is estimated that over 30% of internet use is a porn search.

Research commissioned by a children’s safety group showed the strength of algorithms used by social media companies based on a user’s activity. So, whilst a teenage boy may be targeted with age-appropriate material such as college courses or sportswear, he is also likely to be targeted with highly sexual contents.

Your 11-year-old clicking on a recipe labelled healthy eating may be targeted with diet tips and eating disorder sites totally distorting their image of a healthy body.

Pornographic content harms children. Exposure to pornography at a young age may lead to poor mental health, sexism and objectification, sexual violence, and other negative outcomes.

Among other risks, when children view pornography that portrays abusive and misogynistic acts, they may come to view such behaviour as normal and acceptable.

It’s hard to think about how something that your child sees at age 11 may have terrible consequences in his or her marriage 20 years from now, but that’s the reality when we are talking about pornography.

What can you do

Straight back to our diamonds, this may feel awkward and embarrassing but it they can’t talk to you or another close and trusted family member or friend then someone else not so trusted might fill in the gaps.

The average age of a child viewing their first online pornography is now 9 so you can never have theses conversations too early and don’t let the awkwardness build until it becomes a taboo subject.

If you have managed to build that safe and open environment that we discuss, then your child may come to you with questions way earlier than you expect them to. Try to be casual, give age-appropriate answers, its ok to say that some things are only for adult viewing but don’t let them think that this makes it ok.

Do not tell them off if you find that they have accessed porn, and do not instantly take away their device as punishment.

Try and remember that what they have seen might have scared them and be reassuring about the confusing emotions your child might feel after seeing explicit content. It’s OK to be curious and that this is a normal part of growing up. But also, be prepared to challenge views that may arise from watching adult content. Reinforce the message that sex and bodies, as depicted in a lot of porn, are not realistic.

Explain that porn can make things like non consensual sex appear ‘normal’ or ‘OK’ but it is not