Research shows that there are harms associated with early exposure to pornography, but appropriate sex and relationships education can help. Research indicates that children and young people are accessing pornography at increasing rates , with boys aged years being the most frequent underage consumers of pornographic material. The current senate inquiry into the effects of pornography on children comes as a growing number of parents, children, teachers, psychologists and other professionals working with children and young people voice concerns about the ease of access to pornography online, and the proliferation of increasingly violent pornographic content. While pornography is not a new phenomenon, the volume available and the way people are accessing it have changed. The available studies suggest that the effects of frequent and routine viewing of pornography and other sexualised images may:.
Ask the Expert: ‘A classmate showed it to him at a party, should I tell the boy’s parents?’
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Acknowledge that is normal to be excited by and drawn to look at porn, but then encourage him to critically evaluate what he might witness online. Photograph: iStock. Question: My year-old son has always been a well-behaved mannerly boy. He has been asking us for a smartphone and we have said no, at least not until he has started secondary school next September. It seems a lot of his schoolmates and friends have phones already and that is where the pressure is coming from. He has supervised access to a computer at home where he plays games and watches You Tube and we have parent monitoring software on it. When I asked him about it he was mortified — it seems some of his classmates were looking at porn and showing it to others at a party.
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With the widespread usage of smartphones and tablets, children and teenagers are accessing and viewing pornography more frequently than ever before. Photograph: iStock. Question: I have recently discovered that my year-old son is watching pornography on his tablet. As a mum, I was initially a bit shocked to think he was doing that, but I am realistic about what teenage boys might do and I have tried to handle it well without over-shaming him.
Disclaimer: This story includes details of sexual abuse and may be triggering to some. His face lit up so much I remember thinking he looked like the sun. I was 4 at this time. He was so proud of me as he cheered me on. You caught a fish! He lifted me up and spun me around as I screamed in delight. My dad was my best friend, my hero, the most incredible person in the whole world. It was really true what they say. My life was picture perfect at this time.
