Yahoo News Children Fear Addiction To Internet Pornography
More than one in 10 children aged 12 or 13 say they have made a sexually-explicit video or been part of one, a study has found.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) interviewed 700 children for the study, and found 12% of respondents admitted to making an explicit video.
Almost one in 10 (9%) also said they were worried that they had become addicted to pornography.
A further one in five children (18%) said they had seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them.
The founder of ChildLine, Dame Esther Rantzen, said the research pointed to a need for better education in schools regarding the difference between "real life relationships and the fantasy world of porn".
She said: "Young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships.
"We know they are frequently stumbling across porn, often unintentionally, and they are telling us very clearly that this is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them.
"Girls in particular have said they feel like they have to look and behave like porn stars to be liked by boys.
"We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent as soon as we feel they are ready."
ChildLine receives an estimated 18,000 messages a month from young people regarding exposure to pornography.
According to the director of ChildLine, Peter Liver, children are frequently reporting that watching pornography has made them feel depressed, given them body image issues and put them under pressure to engage in sex acts they are not ready for.
Mr Liver said: "The Government recently proposed plans for children aged 11 upwards to be taught about rape and sexual consent as part of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) in schools.
"This would include discussion around what they have learnt from watching pornography.
"Across society, we need to remove the embarrassment and shame that exists around talking about porn - which is why we have launched a ChildLine campaign to help young people to make more informed choices."
