Shocking Rise in Children’s Exposure to Violent Online Pornography Raises Alarm

Published: 19 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

The scale of harmful and degrading online pornography being viewed by children in the UK has intensified sharply in recent years, according to alarming new findings released by the Children’s Commissioner. The report, compiled under Dame Rachel de Souza, paints a troubling picture of how violent and extreme content is increasingly reaching children, often without them ever searching for it.

The research, based on responses from more than 1,000 young people aged 16 to 21, found that over 70 percent had seen online pornography before turning 18, a marked increase from 64 percent recorded two years ago. Strikingly, the average age of first exposure was just 13, while more than a quarter reported encountering such content as young as 11, with some recalling experiences as early as six years old.

Far from being limited to adult websites, the report highlighted how social media platforms and algorithm-driven recommendation systems are funnelling harmful material to unsuspecting children. More than half of respondents said they had been exposed to pornography involving strangulation, while almost half reported seeing content depicting rape, often involving unconscious victims. Equally disturbing were attitudes shaped by these encounters: 44 percent of respondents said they agreed with the idea that girls could be persuaded into sex despite initially saying no, while a third endorsed the belief that some girls “pretend” to reject advances.

Dame Rachel de Souza described the findings as “a snapshot of rock bottom,” arguing that they reveal the extent to which technology platforms are failing to protect children. She insisted the industry must overhaul its design, algorithms, and safety protocols to prevent children from stumbling across such material, noting that the majority—59 percent—said their first exposure was accidental, a significant rise from 38 percent in 2023.

The report further identified X, formerly Twitter, as the most common platform where children encountered pornography, surpassing even dedicated adult sites. The gap has widened significantly, showing how mainstream platforms now pose the biggest risks.

This research was conducted in May, just ahead of new online safety rules that came into force last month. These measures, including stricter age checks, aim to curb children’s access to harmful content. Dame Rachel welcomed the changes but stressed they must mark a turning point, making child protection an uncompromising priority for both policymakers and technology companies.

Concerns about harmful algorithms extend beyond pornography. Separate research by the Molly Rose Foundation revealed that social media platforms continue to recommend content related to suicide, self-harm, and depression to vulnerable teenagers at an alarming scale. This investigation, which monitored accounts set up as 15-year-old girls, showed that TikTok and Instagram continued to promote such material even after engagement with harmful content.

Ian Russell, founder of the Molly Rose Foundation and father of 14-year-old Molly, who tragically took her life after exposure to online self-harm content, condemned the failure of tech firms and regulators to act. He described the situation as “staggering” and urged the government to deliver stronger legislation without delay, accusing Ofcom of being “timid” in its oversight.

In response, social media giants pushed back. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, insisted it had taken significant measures, highlighting its Teen Accounts feature, which restricts harmful content and limits contact for younger users. TikTok, meanwhile, pointed to its suite of over 50 protective settings for teenage accounts, claiming that 99 percent of violative content is removed before being reported. Both companies disputed the methodology of the research, arguing that the reports did not reflect the majority experience on their platforms.

Nevertheless, campaigners, child safety advocates, and families of victims argue that the evidence of harm is overwhelming and that urgent reform is necessary. As the debate continues, the central issue remains: whether governments, regulators, and tech giants can take decisive action to prevent another generation from being exposed to violent, degrading, and dangerous online material.

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