Violent pornography has a strong influence on children who go on to commit sexual abuse, according to a new report from the Children’s Commissioner, who is calling for age verification as an “urgent priority” in upcoming legislation.
The Commissioner’s office used statutory powers to, for the first time, collect and analyse just over 500 files on child-on-child sexual abuse.
The report follows research earlier this year which found that almost half of young people believe that girls expect sex to involve physical aggression, and that one in 10 children in England had viewed pornography aged just nine—with half of those surveyed having viewed it by the time they reached the age of 13.
Violence
De Souza said that the report provided “compelling” support for the Online Safety Bill, which is upcoming legislation designed to regulate online spaces. The bill seeks to introduce age verification for pornographic websites and social media platforms to prevent children aged under 18 from accessing such material.“What this compelling new evidence now shows is that these acts commonly taking place in pornography are also occurring in terrible cases of child sexual abuse and violence,” de Souza said.
“When we combine that with what children and young people themselves tell us about the influence porn has on their behaviour and wellbeing, I believe we have a stronger case than ever for bringing in the most robust protections for children online.
“No child should be able to access or watch pornography. Passing the Online Safety Bill must be a priority if we are to protect children quickly and effectively, but it is also just one part of the essential and urgent work of protecting children from sexual abuse,” she said.
Online Safety Bill
Previous attempts to regulate pornography and to introduce mandatory age verification requirements—such as the Digital Economy Act of 2017—have failed.Verification Technology
Conservative MP Miriam Cates says the amendments in the Bill must be used to protect children.Cates is also pressing to introduce age-verification technology to stop under-18s accessing unsuitable sites, and social media platforms would be obliged to prohibit misleading adverts.
She added that according to some studies, around 44 per cent of boys who view porn say that it gives them ideas about the “kind of sex they want to try,” and strangulation during sex is now “so unexceptional that it is the second most common cause of stroke in young women.”