Shocking figures show 1 in 10 - 12 to 13 year olds are worried they are addicted to porn
THE NSPCC's ChildLine service has launched a
campaign to raise awareness and provide advice to young people about the harmful
implications of an over exposure to porn. The move follows the discovery that
nearly 1 in 10, 12 to 13 year olds are worried they are addicted to porn.
A poll of nearly 700, 12 to 13 year olds in the UK also reveals that that 1 in 5 of
those surveyed said they'd seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset
them and 12% admitted to making or having been part of a sexually explicit
video.
The figures form part of a UK wide survey of 2,000 children and young people
aged 11 to 17 which was conducted by One Poll in February 2015. The survey included
233 young people from across the North West. 36% of respondents from the North
West said they'd seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them and 6%
had made or been part of a sexually explicit video. 35% of young people in the
North West said watching porn made them feel insecure about their own body but
33% thought that watching porn was a normal part of young people's lives.
The ChildLine FAPZ campaign (the Fight Against Porn Zombies) will use a series
of animations looking at the implications of over exposure to porn on both boys
and girls. The animations then link to a range of information and advice, to
help young people understand the implications associated with replicating
pornographic content in real life situations and to protect them from putting
themselves in potentially risky situations. The campaign is designed for young
people, by young people, who have been at the heart of the creative development
throughout.
One young boy aged between 12 to 15 years old, who contacted the ChildLine base in
Liverpool said:- "My mum caught me masturbating to porn. It was so
embarrassing and things have become really awkward since. I don't think there's
anything wrong with what I was doing because it's a normal part of puberty, but
my mum disagrees. She's been treating me like I'm a terrible person when I'm
not. I don't know what to do. I feel uncomfortable talking to her about the
situation."
Peter Liver, Director of ChildLine said:- "Children of all ages today have
easy access to a wide range of pornography and if we as a society shy away from
talking about this issue, then we are failing the thousands of young people it
is affecting.
We know from the young people who contact ChildLine, that viewing porn is a part
of every day life, and our poll shows that 1 in 5, 12 to 13 year olds think that
watching porn is normal behaviour. However, even more worryingly, they also tell ChildLine that watching porn is making them feel depressed, giving them body
image issues, making them feel pressured to engage in sexual acts they're not
ready for and some even feel they are addicted to porn. Recently, the government announced plans
for children aged 11 upwards to be taught about rape and sexual consent as part
of PSHE in schools. This would include discussion around what they have learnt
from watching pornography. Our campaign clearly compliments this proposal.
Across society, we need to remove the embarrassment and shame that exists around
talking about porn; which is why we are launching this activity and
helping young people to make more informed choices."
Dame Esther Rantzen, the Founder of ChildLine said:- "It is shocking that
children as young as 11 are contacting ChildLine with concerns about porn. Young
people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships. We know
they are frequently stumbling across porn, often unintentionally, and they are
telling us very clearly that this is having a damaging and upsetting effect on
them. Girls in particular have said they feel like they have to look and behave
like porn stars to be liked by boys.
We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent
as soon as we feel they are ready, to ensure that they gain a proper perspective
between real life relationships and the fantasy world of porn.
At ChildLine, we always strive to understand the emerging issues children are
facing which is why we have launched this new campaign. We consulted with young
people throughout the creative development, enabling us to identify language
that will engage them and create real impact.
I would encourage any young person who has a question or concern to visit our
new campaign
webpage or to contact
ChildLine on:- 0800 1111. If you do not already know, our counsellors are
here 24/7 to offer free, confidential support and advice."
In 2013/14 a report by the charity ChildWISE revealed the website Pornhub was
named in the top 5 favourite sites by boys aged 11 to 16. Young people post
approximately 18,000 messages regarding exposure to porn on the ChildLine
discussion forums every month. But as some have pointed out, not all
children look at it, but some say they do so they don't stand out as odd! So how
correct the finding are in reality its questionable, but it is a good indication
of problems!
