Adolescent encounters with online pornography

The research found that 3 in 4 (74.8%) adolescents had at some point encountered online pornography. Of those:

• 4 in 10 (39.1%) reported being under 13 when they first encountered online pornography
• 4 in 10 (39.9%) reported first encountering online pornography accidentally, while 1 in 3 (34.4%) were shown or sent it and 1 in 5 (21.6%) encountered it intentionally
• more than 6 in 10 (63.4%) reported recurrent (monthly or more) encounters with online pornography
• around 6 in 10 reported that they encounter online pornography intentionally (60.9%) and/or accidentally (58.2%), while almost 3 in 10 (28.1%) have been sent online pornography without their consent.

There were some significant differences based on socio-demographic characteristics:

• Older adolescents, boys, sexually diverse adolescents*, and adolescents with disability were more likely to have encountered online pornography at some point during their online experiences.
• Adolescents who are sexually diverse, adolescents who speak a language other than English at home, and adolescents with disability were more likely to report first encountering online pornography when they were under 13.
• Girls were more likely than boys to first encounter online pornography accidentally or by being sent or shown it.
• Older adolescents, boys, and those who first encountered online pornography when they were under 13 were more likely to report recurrent encounters with online pornography.
• Older adolescents, boys, sexually diverse adolescents, and those who first encountered online pornography when they were under 13 were more likely to report encountering online pornography intentionally.
• Younger adolescents, girls, and those with disability were more likely to report accidental encounters with online pornography.
• Younger adolescents and adolescents who first encountered online pornography when they were under 13 were more likely to report non-consensual encounters with online pornography. 

_{* Includes adolescents who identified their sexuality as: gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual, or unsure/questioning and those who used a different term for their sexuality than those included in the survey.} 

This research draws on data from a wider research project conducted by eSafety in September 2022, exploring adolescents’ lived experiences with online pornography and their perspectives on age assurance. Survey data from 1,004 adolescents aged 16 to 18 years was examined to provide updated evidence on the extent and nature of intentional and unintentional encounters with online pornography among Australian adolescents.

The experiences of adolescent Australians revealed in this research highlight the need for more stringent measures on online platforms to prevent unintentional encounters with online pornography. They also underscore the need for robust education for adolescents around consent and age-inappropriate content, particularly around sending sexual images to others without their consent.

The study and its findings are described in detail in a freely-accessible paper published in Archives of Sexual Behavior. 

eSafety’s Parents section has information for parents and carers, including information and advice about children’s encounters with online pornography. 

eSafety’s Young People section provides useful information to help children and teens stay safe online.