Porn Is Educating Our Kids About Sex – Are We OK With That?

For almost half of young people (45% to be precise), porn is their leading source of sex information.What’s more, almost two-thirds of young adults in the UK (65%) said their very first exposure to sex was not through a partner, parent or even a classroom – but via porn. Watching it is a popular pastime: over three-quarters (77%) of Gen Zers in the UK consume porn on a regular basis, with almost half (43%) watching weekly, a LADbible survey of 5,300 18- to 29-year-olds found.While some argue that watching porn can be a “healthy” habit if consumed ethically, there are times when it can trigger negative feelings and beliefs in those who watch or listen to it.LADbible’s survey found one-third admit to feeling guilty after watching porn, while one in two men worry they consume too much of it. Almost half (49%) of Gen Z men said they’ve struggled to reduce their porn consumption.Nearly one-third said their interest in real-life sex had dwindled since consuming porn, and 49% said it had changed their expectations. Almost half (45%) of men compare themselves to the people they see in porn, with 40% of women saying the same. Alarmingly, in a separate Children’s Commissioner survey of people aged 16 to 21 years old, many said it had become normal to see violent content that depicted acts that are illegal or soon will be, such as content featuring strangulation or non-consensual sex.More than half (58%) of respondents had seen porn depicting strangulation before they turned 18, and 44% reported seeing a depiction of rape (specifically, receiving sex whilst asleep).Kids are viewing porn, tooFor parents, it’s important to realise that kids are accessing porn at far younger ages than you might expect.LADbible’s survey found 63% had seen porn before the age of 16, and one in 20 before the age of 10. Half of those exposed before 10 became daily viewers.Research from the Children’s Commissioner published in August this year found children as young as six have accidentally come across porn online.More children reported seeing porn online than two years ago, the poll, which was conducted in May 2025 found, with more than a quarter of children reporting seeing porn by the time they turned 11.As of 25 July, Ofcom has been cracking down on porn sites not enforcing age checks among users, with sites facing large fines or being blocked in the UK if they fail to do so.While this move will undoubtedly prevent plenty of young people from accidentally coming across porn, some critics are concerned it could lead to kids seeking out porn elsewhere, “on smaller, more fringe websites that are not subject to the same internal safeguards as the porn giants” – which could potentially land them in danger.Dr Paula Hall, clinical director at Pivotal Recovery, a therapy-based programme helping people quit porn addiction, sex addiction and compulsive sexual behaviours, told HuffPost UK that parents need to be aware of “how easy it is for young people to access pornography”.She noted that “even with age-gating and porn blockers in place, many young people will simply see that as an additional challenge to be overcome”.So, what’s the answer? Perhaps the simplest answer is: talk. Sex and intimacy expert Charlene Douglas said “parents can’t leave porn to do the talking”.“If children are learning about sex in silence, they’ll turn to the internet – and the lessons they find there aren’t built for real life,” she said. Most importantly, parents need to be educating themselves on the porn landscape, especially if you’re not familiar with it. That way, you’ll be equipped to have open conversations about it. “For any parent, finding the balance between giving children healthy autonomy and boundaries is difficult and the best way to manage this is through honest and open conversation,” said Dr Hall. “First and foremost, parents need to educate themselves so they know what the risks are, but are able to balance those risks with promoting healthy sexuality and ensuring they’re not increasing shame.” The expert noted there are already resources available for parents to help shape these conversations – “often a good first step is to share these age-appropriate resources with children and ensure the door is left open for questions and dialogue,” she added.Internet Matters stresses the important of Experts want more age-appropriate resources for kids (and parents)LADbible’s research indicates that 80% of young people are worried about the impact of porn and 77% want more resources to navigate it. “We need resources that are age appropriate and easily accessible,” said Dr Hall.“Without those resources becoming available, regrettably we’re likely to see these numbers increasing, with higher rates of anxiety, depression and compulsive use and the inevitable knock-on impact on relationships and society.”LADbible has teamed up with Fumble, Pivotal, Movember and musician Jordan Stephens to launch For F*cks Sake Productions, creating content that provides “real-world sex education for young adults”.The group are also urging the UK government to take action “to address the long term impact of porn on young adults”.Dr Hall doesn’t believe the onus should be placed on schools to discuss porn and the impact it can have, as they are “already time pressured and often teachers are not qualified or comfortable to talk about these issues”.Plus, talking in a whole class environment can “make it difficult for children to ask questions that they may have for fear of embarrassing themselves”, she noted.Instead, they want to see mandated age-appropriate sex and relationships education for 16- to 18-year-olds that is delivered by specialists, not teachers; as well as better access to digital resources on sex and relationships – with porn a key part of that conversation. Related...I Teach A College Course On Porn. Here's What I Learned From My Students.12 Brits Share How Online ID Checks Changed Their Porn HabitsUK Porn Age Verification Is Here – But What If We’re Sending Teens Somewhere Worse?

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