By Kristen A Jenson
Do parents usually know if their child has seen pornography?
It’s an interesting question!
Brand-new research from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) found some thought-provoking answers:
- Only 25% of parents thought their children had ever seen pornography, but in reality 53% of their children said they had seen it.
The difference between parents’ beliefs and kids’ experiences is even greater when gender is considered:
- 32% of parents thought their sons had seen pornography, while only 17% of them thought their daughters had seen it. Actually, 58% of girls and 68% of boys had seen it.
This study might be a good way to start a conversation with your kids! Ask them what they think.
And check out our resources for talking to kids and helping them when they’ve been exposed to pornography.
And while we’re sharing the latest stats, here’s some news that was just out this week. This is a disturbing trend we would be wise to pay attention to:
- Teenagers make up 1 in 10 patients receiving sex counseling, compared with 1 in 30 just two years ago.
- “Experts blamed the jump on the increasing prevalence of pornography on their smartphones and social media.” NHS Digital
Yes, these are distressing facts for sure. Sometimes a dose of reality can help us stay motivated.
Because you are doing the right thing to teach kids to be ready to reject pornography. You are helping them face a challenging world with courage and wisdom. You are raising children who have an advantage over kids who have not been warned and taught what to do.
Thank you for bringing light and love to children’s lives!
Kristen A. Jenson is the author of the best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of children’s books and founder of Protect Young Minds (PYM). PYM seeks to help parents ‘porn-proof’ their kids before they come across highly addictive and easily accessible internet pornography.
