UK Porn Age Verification Is Here – But What If We’re Sending Teens Somewhere Worse?

Porn providers now have to conduct age verification checks among site users in a bid to protect under-18s from seeing pornography. It comes as Ofcom survey findings revealed almost one in 10 (8% of) UK kids aged eight to 14 years old had visited an online porn site (or app) over a month-long period.The most likely viewers were boys aged 13 to 14 years old – with two out of 10 visiting adult sites.As of 25 July, Ofcom will crack down on any porn sites not enforcing age checks – such sites could face large fines or be blocked in the UK. What is an age verification check?Ofcom said ticking a box to say you’re over 18 “will no longer be enough”.Online age checks could include live photo or video face recognition, photo ID matching, checking a person’s age via their credit card provider or checking against a selfie that contains proof of age. This will be down to individual porn sites to set up and enforce. Experts are worried some kids might simply source porn from ‘fringe’ websites insteadRani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, said the charity “welcomes” the progress that Ofcom is making in this space.Marcus Johnstone of PCD Solicitors also welcomes the move, but worries it might have “significant, inadvertent consequences” – namely, kids seeking out porn elsewhere and potentially landing themselves in danger. Explaining further, he suggested stricter age checks “will inevitably lead to teenagers attempting to access adult material on the increasing number of smaller, more fringe websites that are not subject to the same internal safeguards as the porn giants”.“Unfortunately, it is on these websites that some of the most dangerous material can be found – and where many criminal extorters, groomers and other predators tend to operate,” said Johnstone, who specialises in criminal defence representation for people accused of sexual offences.He added that while Ofcom has the power to ‘geo-block’ access to these websites in the UK, he has seen “little evidence that this cannot be easily circumvented by a basic VPN”.“It will also do nothing to restrict access to forums like Kik and Telegram, where much online exploitation takes place, or to the ‘Dark Web’, which remains easily available to those with the motivation to look,” he pointed out. James Baker of the Open Rights Group agrees and said he is “worried that children and young people who attempt to bypass age checks may inadvertently expose themselves to greater online harms”.“These include stumbling across unregulated or underground sites, installing malware, or being targeted by exploitative actors in less moderated spaces,” he told the BBC.“In trying to ‘protect’ them, we risk pushing them toward greater danger.”So, what’s the answer? Unfortunately there is no simple answer here. People have to provide age verification for cigarettes, gambling and alcohol – but we all know that doesn’t always stop younger teens from accessing them. Marry-Ann Round, safeguarding expert at Virtual College by Netex, said parents should be having regular, age-appropriate conversations about online safety with their children. Internet Matters has some helpful resources available for parents wanting to navigate the porn chat (with a breakdown for different age groups).“The key is meeting children at their level – with empathy, age-appropriate language and a non-judgemental tone, to ensure children feel safe coming to you,” said Round.Preteens (those aged nine to 12 years old), may be exposed to peer pressure, online bullying or inappropriate content, said Round, which makes this age “a critical time to start talking about handling uncomfortable situations”.“Try to make it a two-way conversation, ask what they’re seeing online, who they talk to, which sites they visit and which online games they play,” she suggested.“Check in regularly to stay close to it, checking in on group chats and the tone of online conversations.”With teenagers – the group most likely to be visiting porn sites – the key is to focus on trust and respect. “At this age, they want independence and therefore may be reluctant to talk or open up at first,” said Round.“Frame the conversation as an open discussion, rather than blaming or putting restrictions on their online activity, as this could cause the situation to escalate and they might become closed off. “It’s less about control and more about empowering them to make informed decisions.”Monitor behaviour changes in kidsBullying, grooming and accessibility to inappropriate content online can all trigger a change in behaviour in your child, said the safeguarding expert.“Behavioural concerns to watch out for include withdrawal from friends and family, irritability, sleep disturbances or even avoiding school,” she said. “A change in their academic performance at school or reluctance to attend might signal a problem.”Parents should pay close attention to their child’s digital activity, too. “Suddenly deleting social media, reluctance to use devices, or reacting emotionally to messages could indicate signs of online bullying,” Round said.And lastly, if they appear to be experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, stomach pain or other physical symptoms with no medical explanation, it may signal there is a problem or a child is unhappy.“As the online world continues to rapidly change, it’s important for parents and education workers to stay up to date with the latest slang and apps in order to spot the signs of inappropriate behaviour,” said Round.“Make the most of tools such as parental control apps, browser settings and screen time reports to stay close to it.”She also suggested building “digital check-ins” into weekly dinners to review which apps and games are being used. “Here, you can also use news of online scams or cyberbullying to teach and educate children further about online safety,” she added.Related...1 In 3 Parents Regret Skipping ‘The Talk’ – Here’s How To Speak To Your Child About PornI Teach A College Course On Porn. The Response Has Been Eye-Opening.Security Experts Warn That Young People Are At Risk Of Revenge Porn

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