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Does viewing pornography online harm children and teens?

As access to the internet has become the norm for children and teens, concerns about access to potentially dangerous and developmentally detrimental content are often at the forefront of caregivers’ minds. In fact, in a recent Qustodio parent survey, parents stated that exposure to adult content and pornography was the online risk that most motivated them to monitor their children’s devices. These concerns are well-founded, as research has shown an increasing number of children and teens being exposed to pornographic content online, and a significant set of psychological and physical risks associated with it. 

Here’s what parents need to know about the negative effects of porn and how to protect young kids against accidental exposure to sexual content.

How much are children being exposed to online pornography?

Many children and teens each year experience the negative impacts of online pornography exposure. Survey results have shown that by the time boys and girls reach the age of 14-15 years old, 66% have seen pornography at some point.  Over 90% of boys and 60% of girls are exposed to pornographic content at some point during adolescence. The average age of initial pornography exposure online is thought to be around 11 years of age, although there is evidence that children as young as age 5 see some type of sexually explicit material via device use. This is highly concerning, as studies have shown that exposure to this type of sexual content during childhood and adolescence is linked to increased risk of anxiety, sexual exploitation, sexual aggression, and addiction. Beyond that, there are significant concerns surrounding the impact of viewing pornography on future intimate relationships, as what is conveyed in pornographic content is generally unsafe and does not portray healthy sexual relationships.

“Not my kid” is no longer a reality

Given that children and teens are living in a digital age, and even more so now with many attending a significant amount of their school day online, it is imperative that parents take steps to support children’s health and safety where online pornography is concerned. While approximately 75% of parents believe their children have never been exposed to online sexual content, statistics show that over 60% of kids have seen pornographic content of some type. The statistics hold true for both boys and girls, although many parents believe their boys are more likely to engage in viewing or sending sexual content. This highlights the fact that this exposure generally occurs without parent awareness. 

What can parents do to help?

Many parents feel uncomfortable addressing this sensitive topic with children and may not understand the reality of what their children are exposed to online – often unintentionally. The majority of children, especially younger children, are exposed to pornographic images without intentionally searching for them, as they can show up in pop-ups or benign image searches.

Here are several important steps parents can take today to address the issue of online pornography with children, and increase their safety when using digital devices and media:

• Talk with children about what pornography is and share your values. Be clear about what constitutes pornographic/sexual content, and that it includes not only images and videos on websites, but also the texts, social media messages, and other things they may send to or receive from others. Let them know that you understand they will be (or may already have been) exposed, and want to give them information to help them stay safe and healthy. 
• Normalise the fact that most kids are curious about sex and bodies, and keep the conversation free of shame or anger. Discuss the differences between sexual images and acts they may see online and real-life sexual activity. As children grow into the teen years, the conversation should include the importance of safe vs. unsafe sex, and what constitutes sexual violence and exploitation.
• Make sure your children know they can talk to you about anything they see online, without risk of being punished. It’s important that children know they can come to adults with questions, concerns, and safety issues, in a judgment-free space.
• Clearly explain your family’s expectations and policy on accessing or viewing pornography, and the measures you have in place to support safety and health. This should include things like not allowing younger children to use devices and keeping internet use out in the open, versus private places. Another good rule of thumb is that children of all ages shouldn’t be using devices in their bedrooms at night. This allows parents to be more aware of what kids are accessing and exposed to. Another helpful strategy is to sit down periodically with children and their devices to discuss what they have been searching, the things they are doing on social media, and other online interests – coming from an interested approach, rather than accusatory or invasion of privacy.
• Install and use parental control tools on any device your children use. Young children, up through elementary school age, should have restrictions that aim to block all sexual or dangerous content. As children grow into the pre-teen and teen years, restrictions can be adjusted to reflect their increasing maturity and ability to engage in safe online behaviour. However, even for teens it is wise to have restrictions on adult sexual content given the research-based concerns about negative impact on healthy sexual and relational development and addiction.

The internet provides many wonderful benefits to our children, but it’s also necessary to recognise the ever-increasing risks that can occur in a digital environment. As with most health and safety topics parents need to discuss with children, the conversation about pornography should be ongoing. What starts as a basic and factual conversation at the elementary ages should grow into a more detailed conversation about sexual information, values, safety, and personal choices as children grow toward adulthood. 

While it is unrealistic to think that young people will be fully shielded from sexually explicit and potentially dangerous content, despite parents’ best intentions, it is very possible to guide them toward safe and healthy sexual knowledge and wellness by using appropriate internet controls and keeping the line of conversation open. 

Reference: Does viewing pornography online harm children and teens? | Qustodio