How did you first come across porn?

The ways in which children and teenagers first come across pornography can vary widely, but several common themes and statistics are highlighted in the sources:

Accidental Exposure

Many children stumble upon pornography accidentally. For example, a study mentioned that 43.5% of men reported their first exposure to pornography was accidental2.

• Children may accidentally find porn while searching for other content online, such as the example of a child searching for "Dick’s Sporting Goods" and encountering explicit content instead4.

Peer Influence and Sharing

Peers often play a significant role in exposing children to pornography. For instance:

• By age 11, some children have seen pornography shared via social media platforms like AirDrop, Snapchat, and WhatsApp groups1.
• Teenagers may feel pressured to watch pornography to fit in with their peers, with 43% of children aged 16-21 agreeing that young people mainly view online pornography due to peer pressure or to fit in1.

Access Through Technology

The widespread availability of smartphones and internet access has made it easier for children to encounter pornography:

• By age 13, many children have their own smartphones, which can lead to exposure through various online platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and dedicated pornography sites13.
• Children may use VPNs to bypass safety controls set by their parents to access restricted content1.

Early Exposure

Some children are exposed to pornography at very young ages:

• As early as age 9, 10% of children have seen pornography, and by age 11, this number increases to 27%1.
• There are even cases where children as young as 5 years old have been exposed to or created porn-themed images5.

These scenarios underscore the need for proactive measures by parents, educators, and policymakers to protect children from harmful content and to educate them about the potential risks associated with early exposure to pornography.