Too much, too young: Why we need to talk to our sons about porn
Research has shown that viewing pornography affects boys' attitudes towards sex and relationships. As parents we must help them sort fact from fantasy, writes David Coleman
Easily accessible: as parents, we cannot adopt a ‘head in the sand’ approach to porn. Stock Image
Teenage boys watch pornography. Estimates, based on the research evidence that I have tracked, suggest that about half of all pre-teens and teenagers between the ages of 11 and 16 watch pornography. About 3 in 10 boys age 11 and 12 watch pornography and by the age of 18, the figure jumps to about 9 in 10 boys that have watched, or do watch, pornography. The average age at which boys are first exposed to pornography is estimated to be 11 years, but there is research evidence that boys as young as eight years old view pornography.
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