Children growing up today have never known life without access to the internet. Their interaction with technology is unrecognisable from previous generations.
This online world can be an incredible resource for their learning and connection with friends and family – but there is a darker side to it that I find really concerning.
As children’s commissioner, keeping children safe online is one of my top priorities. I was commissioned by government to examine children’s experiences of the online world and have spoken to hundreds of children and young people across the country to gather their views.
Earlier this year, I published the results of a survey of 1,000 young people aged 16-21 and focus groups with teenagers. Shockingly, this revealed that the average age at which children first view pornography is now just 13 years old.
