Whenever I mention to the parent of a child that age that many six-year-olds have seen pornography, they say: “Oh, my child hasn’t.” Well, as a teenager from Chichester said: “If you put a phone in a child’s hand, you are putting porn in a child’s hand … don’t do it unless you are ready to speak to them about pornography.” I was shocked to discover that it is common for children aged six to encounter pornography online. Children as young as six are encountering pornography I also worry that it is going under the radar: we need to be unafraid to speak to children about pornography, and to find a language for it. My fear is that early and repeated exposure to pornography is harmful to human connection and love. In meeting so many children and young people and hearing them speak about their experiences, I became aware of how vast and complex this subject is. With older groups (14-plus), I would begin by asking an open question such as: “What do you think about pornography?” And I would follow the track of their conversation, being careful not to judge or influence them. When I stepped into a room with six-year-olds, I would ask: “What is good about the internet?” and then “What is bad about the internet?” I was very careful not to use the “P” word or to introduce the subject. I sought advice and support from Barnardo’s about how to broach this thorny subject with children and young people.
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