THIRD of children have seen online porn by the time they are 10, shocking study reveals

By Andrew Levy

Last updated at 3:16 PM on 6th June 2010



A third of children have accessed online pornography by the time they are ten years old, a disturbing survey has revealed.



And more than eight in ten children aged 14 to 16 say they regularly access hardcore photographs and footage on their home computers, while two-thirds watch it on their mobile phones.



Yet 70 per cent admit they have never been physically intimate with someone - meaning their first experience of sex is watching often violent scenes online.



Parents appear to be unaware of the risk to their children as three-quarters of the children surveyed confirmed their families had never discussed online porn with them.



In many cases, parents are simply unable to keep up with their computer-literate kids and have no idea how to install parental internet controls or to stop their children getting around them.



Experts warned the flood of extreme sexual imagery was creating a time bomb for young people who would have problems with romantic relationships when they were older and were more likely to commit rape.



Leading sociologist Michael Flood told Psychologies magazine, which interviewed hundreds of secondary school pupils for the survey: 'There is compelling evidence that pornography has negative effects on individuals and communities.



'Porn shows sex in unrealistic ways and fails to address intimacy, love, connection or romance. It doesn't mean every young person is going out to rape somebody but it increases the likelihood.'



Sex addiction therapist John Woods warned watching porn was more addictive than drugs or alcohol.



He told a Sunday newspaper: 'The pendulum has swing too far. We are allowing abusive sexual imagery to be accessed by children.



'We need regulation but that needs people to say enough is enough and demand change.'



The NSPCC said it was 'really concerned' about the growing problem.



Spokesman Lucy Thorpe said: 'For girls and boys, porn presents an extreme sexuality that puts pressure on them to behave in a certain way and view each other in a negative light.'



Justine Roberts, of online parents' group Mumsnet, added: 'We are going to produce a generation with a terrifying idea of what sex is about.'



Psychologies recommended a range of measures to stop children watching online porn.



They included downloading sex filters - which are often available from internet service providers - onto home computers and checking your child's school has an 'e-safety' policy.







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