Open letter to ChildLine: Stop normalising the use of pornography to children

How can ChildLine even begin justify this resource, which will be so damaging to view for many children who have been sexually abused? There are very many reasons why lots of children will not see the subject of porn as “fun” and “sexy” or as a topic to be approached in such jokey manner. This video has the serious potential to further harm abused children with its cartoon images of certain types of porn and it’s joke which uses a young child’s voice to indicate that the rules around porn and age are funny. Some children will have experienced firsthand the link between ‘legal’ porn and what they are subjected to. This video is likely to tell many abused children that view it, that ChildLine is not a safe organisation to approach or disclose to. If shown in class then, it may well stop children disclosing abuse to their school too. Porn should of course be discussed within RSE, but in a far more sensitive and appropriate way.

Please consider carefully the damage that promoting such material could have on many children and withdraw support for it immediately.

Young people need to be allowed to find out about sexual relationships without seeing the type of sex in pornography.

This is an overstepping of parental rights. There is no need for children to be exposed to this sort of sexual material. Simple discussions of contraception , reproductive health , pregnancy , sexually transmitted disease , consent , healthy relationships, pubertal physical changes , pregnancy , etc is all that is required.

Am horrified that CHILDLINE is supporting & promoting pornography to CHILDREN. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

Disgraceful, amounting to abuse of children. We only started to be informed about the facts of life after puberty and by the family.

NSPCC has over the last few years you've demonstrated a worrying lack of understanding of child development, child safeguarding and a worrying willingness to pander to 'woke' ideology (and even berated people for pointing out your deaf-ears: Rubber Man; puberty blockers)

Children do need to learn about pornography as part of RSE but this video trivialises the subject and doesn't explain the well evidenced dangers. This simplistic 'porn is great' message is damaging for girls and boys.

We must protect our children & we need to stop normalising porn. It gives an unrealistic view on what women are, relationships should be & sex. Children need to be educated not groomed.

This worries me immensely. What on earth are Childline thinking?!

Certainly not suitable for children or Teenager's, can't believe this is allowed.

The assumption is that porn is enjoyable to watch, and so it takes a sexist viewpoint. Warning towards the end that it objectifies women is too little too late.

Absolutely agree with this.

This is damaging children, they don’t need this extra pressure in their young lives.

This is grooming, not education, and a betrayal of your core purpose. Pornography leads to greater sexual inequality in society, poorer relationships and overall negative outcomes for girls. Please remove it and rethink the approach that led to your endorsement of child abuse.

Stop encouraging and normalising the grooming of children!

We have to stop out children being abused. Too much from all sides, whether it be pornography or telling them they don't know what sex they are , .Or making and wear masks. Got to stop now.

Disgraceful.

This is overload information for a child that ought not be so trivialized .

Weren't you set up to prevent abuse of children? But now you appear to be actively promoting it! Hands off our kids!