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News Headlines - Children accessing porn

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Sadsister22

Member since
February 2022

95 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 2:34pmReport post

Hi All

Has anyone seen the ITV news today, which states that 1 in 10 children have accessed porn by the age of 10, according to new research by the Children's Commissioner for England.

Half of children surveyed stated they had seen extreme porn by the age of 13.

If these children are able to access this content at such a young age, god forbid what else it can lead to.

According to the Children's Commissioner is it now crucial to not miss the opportunity offered by the online safety bill, which has had its 2nd reading in the House of Lords (Monday), calling for it to be passed through Parliament as an urgent priority. He states it is vital to ensure that we understand the impact of porn on childrens lives.

The report states, "1 in 5 boys watched it at least everyday in the two weeks prior to the survey, compared to 7% of girls, and more than half (56%) of frequent consumers actively sought out violent sex acts, compared with 25% of infrequent viewers".

The Children's Commissioner noted that most of the children did not actively look for this content online and one of the most reported platforms where children had seen porn was via Twitter.

"The report also found Twitter to be the highest percentage of children & young people (41%) reported having seen sexual content followed by dedicated sites (37%) and instagram (33%). Around half (51%) of girls aged 16-21 have been sent or shown explicit content involving someone they know in real life, compared with 33% of boys".

We all know the damage porn sites have caused. I really hope the online Safety bill gets it right in order to protect children and adults from accessing inappropriate content and most importantly Social Media providers step up with removing content as soon as it is uploaded.

Sorry just having a rant really on how this all has a knock on affect with children and adults.

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

994 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 2:48pmReport post

It's a shame that they don't go that step further into acknowledging porn addiction and early exposure to such material can lead to the situations we find ourselves in. Social media platforms definitely need to step up their awareness and accountability xxx

Another worried mum

Member since
December 2022

129 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 3:22pmReport post

Agree with you both. Im so sure this is where it all started with my son. What a horrible dark world porn exists in.

Alison20

Member since
March 2021

361 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 3:35pmReport post

I agree completely with all your comments- this change in the law can not come soon enough.

Many young people get caught up in this without actively looking for it intially and then can quite easily get into trouble with the law and some very sadly end up with a conviction. It is so sad our young people are not protected properly on social media websites and then they can fall foul of the law.

Edited Tue January 31, 2023 3:36pm

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2538 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 3:39pmReport post

Something should be done. This stuff is so easy to access and I'm convinced if it wasn't on line my son wouldn't be where he is now and he's an adult :-(

Edited Tue January 31, 2023 4:22pm

Lola53

Member since
May 2021

269 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 4:27pmReport post

Whilst I don't condone what our loved ones have done, the fact that this stuff is so readily available is terrifying and our people are just low-hanging fruit as far as the police are concerned. They should be putting their energies into tackling the root cause and the internet providers that put it out there; until they do that this is just going to get worse.

Rant over!

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 4:47pmReport post

Everytime I hear anything along these lines (there was something on the news about the amount of new child imagery appearing online that is self generated)

I just think there are going to be such big problems with people finding themselves in the same position as our loved ones in 5 - 10 years time and more children being abused unless something fundamentally changes on the way we use the Internet and social platforms.

I find all the stories on here heart breaking, but particularly the teenagers - The Internet is literally a whole other hidden world without some of the safe guarding and social support/ expectations we have in real life.

Confused&worried

Member since
June 2022

326 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 5:58pmReport post

I'm also interested to see the Emily Atack doc on BBC2 tonight about unsolicited sexual and explicit messages being sent to women and girls. This culture of anonymity when messaging via social media is making boys and young men think that they are invincible. A 17 year old lad sends an image to a 15 year old girl or vice verse and a whole world of consequences lands on their door.

Newlady

Member since
April 2021

644 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 6:13pmReport post

I think the danger of online peon and what it can lead to should be taught in schools about the consequences and the people in it are real. especially teen boys s. If I my lff would have the funds to do this I'd happily do it. If it protects one child or stops another child getting a conviction then it would be worth it.

Nonna

Member since
December 2018

85 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 7:14pmReport post

Here here totally agree with all , I was listening to Sheila fogarty on lbc phone in this afternoon about this in the news , a very courageous man rang in and said he got addicated to porn hub he thinks due to being sexually abused at 11 and 15 , now he attends saa, you can download and listen to the show from this afternoon, very interesting

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 7:25pmReport post

Newlady

Totally agree on what you have said

Honestly I would be willing to speak about this journey if there was more awareness and we could prevent another family going through this and also prevent more victims

The problem with this crime is because it's such a Taboo subject society will continue to class our loved ones under the same umbrella but this is not the case as each and everyone of us know xx

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 7:40pmReport post

This is something which really needs to be addressed.

I have a background in education and have been aware of the issues with young children accessing porn for some time-I would really like to do something to raise awareness in schools but as others have pointed out this crime carries so much stigma that we are all in fear of repercussions

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 8:08pmReport post

Post deleted by user


Edited Tue January 31, 2023 8:09pm

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 8:08pmReport post

Post deleted by user


Edited Tue January 31, 2023 8:09pm

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Tue January 31, 2023 8:09pmReport post

Seaside

How are you and your son doing?x

My sons case was reported for all to see and while some of his crime reported was what he had done but the way it was twisted beyond belief was horrendous

I have had no repercussions but we have lost friends, my sons friends etc

Awareness needs to happen

I would never have imagined this journey would happen but here we are xx

Daffodil

Member since
March 2022

965 posts

Posted Wed February 1, 2023 6:24amReport post

Post deleted


Edited Tue October 24, 2023 9:12am

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2538 posts

Posted Wed February 1, 2023 9:48amReport post

I agree this was scary to listen to. I'm so sad innocence has gone. I'm scared for my grandchildren and them getting a mobile.

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2538 posts

Posted Wed February 1, 2023 6:51pmReport post

Hi Confused&Worried. - I watched the programme you mentioned, it was quite alarming to say the least.

The discussion with the group of men was particularly thought provoking. The guy that spoke about how so much pressure is put on males to 'sew their wild oats' and the struggle faced if you didn't fit that mould, often being ridiculed. Perhaps leading on to other behaviours through porn.

Why do men send this filth to women/girls - their reply "because we can "........ says it all.....

Edited Wed February 1, 2023 7:04pm

Confused&worried

Member since
June 2022

326 posts

Posted Wed February 1, 2023 7:03pmReport post

Smile, it was petrifying. I have 2 daughters, the thought of them receiving these messages really worries me, but what worries me more is what society is telling my son is acceptable behaviour. I really hope my boy doesn't end up down a porn rabbit hole. As hard as this journey has been as a wife, I can't begin to imagine what it must be like as a mother ????

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2538 posts

Posted Wed February 1, 2023 7:11pmReport post

My son never had a relationship- people did have a giggle at his his expense which he seemed to brush off/laugh at. But WHAT was going on in his mind - he must have felt extremely lonely...... did he (in a weird way) find comfort in this world?

Social media is a wonderful platform but has a dark nasty side which there's NO control over. Unfortunately youngsters and a lot of adults are hooked on their phones and social media. I don't do any social media, I only use this forum on line.

Edited Wed February 1, 2023 7:15pm