How and why young people access pornography
Pornography refers to sexually explicit material that is intended to create sexual arousal. It can take many forms and is now most commonly accessed online, meaning children and young people may encounter it intentionally or accidentally as part of their everyday digital lives.
Evidence suggests many young people in Australia are exposed to or view pornography during adolescence, with first exposure often occurring between mid and late childhood.
While sexual arousal may be one reason young people access pornography, they also do so for a range of other reasons, including curiosity, seeking information, entertainment or because they feel bored or lonely.
Calm, proactive responses
While the idea of young people accessing pornography can feel confronting, it's unrealistic to assume they will never encounter it or seek it out. Although it's important to take steps to reduce access to unrestricted or age-inappropriate content, it’s equally important to understand pornography and approach conversations in a calm, non-judgmental and informed way.
Pornography is not designed to provide education about sex, relationships, consent or bodies. Supporting young people to think critically about the messages they are seeing in pornography can help them develop healthy understandings of these concepts.
How this collection helps
Emerging evidence suggests pornography may be relevant to understanding some young people's problematic and harmful sexual behaviour, particularly where there has been early, repeated or heavy exposure. Building knowledge and responding to concerns about pornography early is an important part of a broader preventative approach.
In this collection, you'll find:
information about pornography
practical guidance for limiting access
strategies for talking with young people
resources that support critical thinking about the messages pornography conveys.
Resources for understanding and responding to pornography use
Guidance on why and how young people are accessing pornography, challenging harmful messages and responding to concerns early.
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Resources for sharing with young people
Resources to help young people think critically about pornography and its messages and recognise unhealthy patterns of use.
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Resources for sharing with parents and carers
Resources for learning and conversations about pornography.
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More prevention resources
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Parents and carers
If you’re a parent or carer seeking information or worrying about a behaviour, you're not alone. Find resources to help you understand child sexual development, support safety, and respond to concerns about sexual behaviour.
Children and young people
It’s normal to have questions about your body, feelings, sex and relationships. If you’re a young person looking for information – head here. We’ve got information just for you.