Press Release: Ofcom Reports Alarming Online Pornography Use Among Children Ahead of New Age Verification Laws
A recent study by Ofcom, the UK’s communications watchdog, reveals that nearly one in ten children aged eight to 14 have encountered online pornography, with the highest rates among boys aged 13 to 14. Specifically, 20% of this age group reported visiting adult sites in the past month. Ofcom warns that the actual number of minors accessing such content is likely even higher since the study excludes older teenagers.
As adult content providers prepare to implement stringent age verification measures by the 25 July deadline, Ofcom’s research underscores the urgency of safeguarding children from harmful material online. Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom’s group director of online safety, highlighted the long-standing accessibility of adult content for minors and emphasized that upcoming changes will align online pornography regulations with those for in-person adult services, all while ensuring over-18s maintain their privacy.
Major platforms like Pornhub, Stripchat, and YouPorn have committed to adopting effective age-checking protocols as mandated by the Online Safety Act (OSA). Non-compliance could result in severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of global turnover or being banned in the UK.
Ofcom has introduced various age verification methods, such as facial recognition technology, credit card checks, and digital identity wallets. The regulator noted that simply confirming one’s age will no longer suffice.
Support for stricter age checks is widespread, with 80% of adults advocating for measures to protect children from online pornography. Advocates from organizations like Care and NSPCC insist these regulations are crucial for child safety and stress the importance of effective implementation to mitigate the potential harms associated with online pornography.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
