When do parents need to talk to their children about pornography? You need to start that conversation sooner than you think

"Children are being exposed earlier than parents realise, but Dr David Coleman says having proactive conversations can help them develop healthier attitudes to sex and relationships"

"Most parents accept that when a child or teenager encounters pornography early or inadvertently, their developing sense of sexual identity, intimacy, consent and body image can be shaped by distorted and unrealistic images."

"There is also the potential for the levels of sexual violence, aggression, coercion or degradation that those same children and teenagers are being exposed to when watching pornography to be translated into actual sexual behaviour."

Children are being exposed to pornography at younger ages than parents realize. Early or inadvertent encounters with pornography can shape developing sexual identity, intimacy, consent, and body image through distorted and unrealistic images. Exposure to sexual violence, aggression, coercion, or degradation in pornography carries the potential to be translated into actual sexual behaviour among children and teenagers. Proactive, age‑appropriate conversations between caregivers and children can help foster healthier attitudes toward sex and relationships and mitigate harmful influences from pornography.

Read at Independent