Almost one-third of Australian children have seen sexually explicit images or videos online, according to new research.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said a survey more than 3400 children, aged 10 to 17 years, found 32 percent had been exposed to sexual images or videos online, with 23 percent seeing it in the past 12 months.
Ms Inman Grant said the research also found 12 percent of children had seen violent sexual material online.
“Pornography is so pervasive and invasive that children are often stumbling across it by accident,” she said.
“We want children to understand the pillars of a healthy relationship begin with consent and respect. Pornography can be the antithesis of that. A child cannot unsee a video showing a man aggressively choking a woman during sex, for example.”
Ms Inman Grant said child exposure to violent and extreme pornography was a major concern for many parents and carers.
She said a new Online Safety Advisory provided parents and carers with practical advice, including guidance around those difficult conversations they needed to have with their children as well as useful information on parental controls and other safety tools.
“Ultimately, it’s crucial kids know that they won’t be in trouble if they come to you for help.”
Access the new Online Safety Advisory.
