How Britain’s children are being exposed and becoming addicted to porn

Pornography Exposure Among Children on the Rise, Sky News Investigation Finds

Children as young as five are being exposed to pornography online, with some developing addictions at an early age, according to new findings shared with Sky News.

Research by the YMCA’s Dignify Project, which works to protect children and young people from the harms of pornography, reveals that exposure to sexual content is occurring at increasingly younger ages. While the average age of first exposure remains 12, the data shows that some children encounter explicit material at five years old or younger.

Nicola Lee of the Dignify Project said deeper analysis of the research uncovered a troubling trend. “Some children who first viewed pornography at five and under are now reporting addiction,” she explained. “It’s not just early exposure — it has followed them into later years.”

One young woman, Shaniah Williams, told Sky News she first encountered pornography at seven, after being exposed to harmful sexual behaviour at the age of six. Curiosity led her to search online, where explicit material was easily accessible on certain platforms. By eight, she said she was watching extreme content, and by 12, she was addicted.

“I didn’t understand why I felt so low,” Shaniah said. “Consuming more of it helped me cope, but the thoughts never stopped. I just wanted it to end.”

Despite having restrictions on her devices, Shaniah said the images she saw left her confused, frightened, and later contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts. “It took my childhood,” she said. “I’m not getting it back. But other children still can — if parents act.”

Dignify’s research shows most children encounter pornography unintentionally — through group chats, shared links, pop-ups, or messages from strangers. A third of those exposed first saw explicit content while still in primary school.

The organisation is urging parents to have age-appropriate conversations with children about online safety and screen use. It also advises shared screen time in early years, using parental controls, and supervising children’s online activity by staying in the same room.

The issue is also widespread in secondary schools. Flossie, 17, told Sky News she was exposed to hardcore pornography and violent videos within three months of starting secondary school. One video circulating among students showed a beheading, while another involved bestiality.

“I had no choice,” she said. “Someone shoved it in my face when I was 12. I was so disturbed I had to go home from school.”

Flossie is now part of a legal challenge calling for smartphones to be banned in UK schools, arguing that children cannot be adequately protected while devices remain in classrooms, playgrounds, and school transport.

Will Orr-Ewing, who is also involved in the campaign, said more than 250 headteachers support a potential judicial review of government guidance. He warned that every new school year exposes a fresh group of children to irreversible harm.

“The majority of harms come through the smartphone,” he said. “Parents believe phones keep children safe, but the evidence shows they often make them more vulnerable.”

Responding, a Department for Education spokesperson said most schools already restrict phone use and pointed to the Online Safety Act as a major step toward protecting children from harmful content online. The government said it is seeking to balance child protection with safe access to digital services.