Kids as young as 11 'addicted' to porn, study shows

One in five children of the same age said they have seen porn images that shocked or upset them and one in 10 even worry that they are addicted to porn.

The study, conducted by NSPCC's ChildLine service, surveyed nearly 700 children.

ChildLine founder Dame Esther Rantzen said that children as young as 11 had called up worrying about porn.

She said: "Young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships.

"We know that they are frequently stumbling across porn – often unintentionally – and they are telling us very clearly that this is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them.

"Girls in particular have said they feel like they have to look and behave like porn stars to be liked by boys."

Children who phoned in said watching porn made them feel depressed, gave them body image issues and made them feel pressured into sex acts they aren't ready for.

As well as calling the helpline young kids post around 18,000 messages about porn on the ChildLine online discussion forums.

And a 2013 report by charity ChildWise revealed that Pornhub was among the top five visited sites by boys aged 11 to 16.

Peter Liver, director of ChildLine, said: "The Government recently proposed plans for children aged 11 and upwards to be taught about rape and sexual consent as part of PSHE in schools.

"This would include discussions around what they have learnt from watching pornography.

"Across society we need to remove the embarrassment and shame that exists around talking about porn."

ChildLine has launched the Fight Against Porn Zombies (FAPZ) campaign in response to the findings.

It will use animations to show the dangers of watching porn for both boys and girls.

(dailystar.co.uk)