Case Studies

Impact of online porn report

by Mark Rowe

Researchers from Middlesex University have produced a report on the impact of online porn on young people after the largest survey of its kind.

More than 1000 young people completed an online survey as part of the study, with a further 70 girls and boys aged 11 to 16 taking part in a focus group. The project was jointly commissioned by the Children’s Commissioner for England and National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Dr Elena Martelozzo, a criminologist at Middlesex and co-lead researcher of the report, said: “Although many children did not report seeing online pornography, it is worrying that some children came across it accidentally and could be sent it without seeking it.”

The researchers found that repeated viewing may make children “desensitised” to the damaging impact of pornography, with young people often seeing it as realistic. More than a third (39pc) of 13-14 year-olds, for example, wanted to copy the behavior they viewed. This was despite more than three quarters of respondents agreeing that pornography did not help them understand consent (87pc of boys and 77pc of girls).

“It can make a boy not look for love, just look for sex and it can pressure us girls to act and look and behave in a certain way before we might be ready for it,” said one 13-year-old girl.

Dr Martelozzo added: “If boys believe that online pornography provides a realistic view of sexual relationships, then this may lead to inappropriate expectations of girls and women.”

It is hoped that the report – which draws out implications of the research on policy – makes some headway in creating safe spaces for young people to freely discuss issues surrounding sex, relationships and the accessibility of online porn in the digital age. You can read the 87-page report on the Middlesex website.

Comment

Raj Samani, CTO of Intel Security, said: “Today’s news from NSPCC that half of 11 to 16-year olds have seen explicit material online is yet another reminder of the potential dangers open to ‘smartphone kids’. Recent research from Intel Security found that only 40pc of children aged between five and 12 years old are being supervised whilst using the internet, and over a third of parents have not made an attempt to find out what their child is doing online – worryingly leaving children to their own devices, stumbling upon this explicit content.

Unfortunately, we can’t make this content disappear and so it is down to the adults in these children’s lives – parents, relatives, teachers – to do all they can to protect their kids through both technology and communication. For example, they should have the correct parental controls in place on all connected devices their children use. In addition, there is also a need for joint discussion about online behaviour, even when it comes to the more sensitive topics like sex education online. That way, adults can then be safe in knowing they are doing all they can to protect them.”

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