A recent study conducted by England’s Children’s Commissioner has found that exposure to online pornography among minors has increased - even after the enactment of the Online Safety Act in 2023.
The study shows that over 70% of young people aged 16–21 reported viewing pornography before turning 18, up from 64% in 2023. Alarmingly, more than a quarter said they had encountered it by the age of 11, with some respondents stating their first exposure was as early as six years old.
Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza expressed concern, noting that violent pornography is easily accessible - often encountered unintentionally, primarily through mainstream social media platforms.
Key findings of the May 2025 survey (which involved 1,010 participants aged 16–21, and mirrors a prior study conducted in 2023 to maintain consistency) include:
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Earlier and more frequent exposure: In 2025, 70% had seen pornography before age 18 (an increase from 64% in 2023). Over 27% reported first exposure by age 11, with the average age remaining around 13.
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Higher risk among vulnerable youth: Children eligible for free school meals, those with special educational needs or disabilities, or those in social care were more likely to encounter pornography early.
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Shifting attitudes linked to exposure: About 44% agreed with the statement “Girls may say no at first but then can be persuaded to have sex.” Among those exposed to pornography online, agreement was higher (54% of girls and 41% of boys) compared to peers who hadn’t been exposed (46% of girls and 30% of boys).
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Predominantly accidental exposure: A larger share of respondents (59%) said they encountered pornography unintentionally, while just 35% sought it out; this marks a significant rise in accidental exposure compared to 2023 - up from 38%.
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Social media is a key source: Eight out of ten exposures stemmed from networking or social media platforms. X (formerly Twitter) surpassed dedicated adult sites, with 45% of young participants reporting exposure via X compared to 35% via porn sites - a widening gap from 2023 (41% vs. 37%).
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Exposure to illegal content is widespread: Over half of respondents (58%) had seen strangulation in porn, 44% saw sex while someone was asleep, and 36% encountered acts involving a non-consenting individual - all before they turned 18.
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Content is being served, not searched: Few children actively sought out violent or extreme material, indicating that it was being inadvertently delivered - not intentionally accessed.
Despite Ofcom’s stricter measures introduced in July (under the Online Safety Act), the report warns that children may still circumvent restrictions using VPNs, which remain legal in the UK. The report recommends:
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That online pornography be regulated to the same standard as offline material.
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A ban on non-fatal strangulation depictions.
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Additional support for schools to deliver the updated relationships, health, and sex education curriculum.
Interestingly, analytics firm Similarweb reported a sharp decline in visits to major pornography sites following the implementation of enhanced age-verification on 25 July. For example, Pornhub - widely considered the UK’s most visited adult site - experienced a 47% drop in UK visitors from 24th July to 8th August 2025.
A government spokesperson emphasized that the Online Safety Act is intended to end the unchecked exposure of children to disturbing online content. While VPNs are legal for adults, anyone facilitating access to minors can face stringent enforcement actions and penalties
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