Children’s Exposure To Porn Surges Despite 2023 Safety Act, Poll Finds

Children’s exposure to porn higher than before 2023 Online Safety Act, poll finds.

What happens when the very laws meant to shield kids from online harm end up exposing them even earlier?

That’s the uncomfortable truth revealed in a new report from England’s children’s commissioner — and the findings are sobering.

According to Dame Rachel de Souza, children as young as six are stumbling across pornography online, often by accident.

In fact, more young people say they’ve seen explicit material before turning 18 than just two years ago, when the Online Safety Act was first introduced.

“Violent pornography is easily accessible to children… and it is impacting children’s behaviours and beliefs in deeply concerning ways,” she warned.

The numbers tell a stark story: 70% of young people reported seeing porn before 18, up from 64% in 2023.

Over a quarter said they’d already been exposed by age 11.

Most weren’t even looking for it — 59% said they encountered it accidentally, often through social media.

X, formerly Twitter, has now overtaken dedicated porn sites as the main source of exposure.

What’s More Troubling?

Many reported seeing illegal or extreme acts, like strangulation or sex without consent.

Researchers say this content is being pushed to children rather than sought out.

The government insists new rules and age checks are a “line in the sand.”

But with VPNs offering easy workarounds, one has to wonder: in a digital world full of loopholes, can childhood innocence truly be protected?

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