ChildLine finally pulled the video and acknowledged how dangerous it was to push this filth on our kids. We forced them to walk back their reckless promotion of porn and stop putting vulnerable young people at risk. Stay alert because we need to ensure they never try to normalize this …
September 13, 2021
Open letter to ChildLine: Stop normalising the use of pornography to children
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, have grave concerns about ChildLine’s sponsorship of the YouTube video ‘WTF is Porn?’ We urge ChildLine to withdraw the video and review the processes which have led to the publication of this harmful material.
‘WTF is Porn’ is aimed at young people, although there is no age specified. It tells children that “porn is great to watch” and gives impressionable and vulnerable children sexist, misogynistic, homophobic and racist porn categories to google, including:
Softcore, Hardcore, Lesbian, Thespian, Interracial, Facial, Alternative, Conservative, Hentai, Far Cry, BDSM, NEDM, Amateur, Mature and Swan Disco.
This is despite the founder of ChildLine Dame Esther Rantzen, saying six days before this video was put up, that:
“children are telling us very clearly that [porn] is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them.”
Furthermore, ChildLine became part of the NSPCC in 2006 and the NSPCC’s website says that showing children porn is “non-contact child abuse”.
ChildLine states it is for under 19s. The style of the video suggests it is aimed at those under 16. This material is therefore aimed squarely at children.
Adults have a responsibility to set parameters when it comes to the protection of children. There is no justification for normalising the use of pornography amongst children.
In failing to condemn the use of pornography the ChildLine video is effectively sacrificing the best interests of women and girls in order to seem ‘sex positive.’
It is perfectly possible to be positive about sex and healthy relationships whilst critiquing pornography and the abusive practices within it; indeed this is the backbone of responsible Relationships and Sex Education.
Government Guidance
The Disrespect Nobody website produced by the Home Office offers comprehensive advice on healthy relationships[1].
Guidance produced by the Department of Education[2] notes ‘use of technology has become a significant component of many safeguarding issues’ pointing out that ‘being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material; for example pornography’ is a core ‘area of risk’ with regard to online safety.
We hope ChildLine will heed these concerns and take action to keep children safe. In anticipation of a swift and positive response
Children do not need to see this video, but over the last 6 years, three million people have viewed it. How many of those views were children?
Please sign here to support the removal of this video.
End Notes
[1] HOME OFFICE, Disrespect Nobody [online] https://www.disrespectnobody.co.uk/ 2019 (accessed 7th April 2020)
[2] DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, Keeping Children Safe in Education, [Online}. 2015 (accessed 7th April 2020)
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
July 1, 2021
May 4, 2021
The massive surge in support proves parents are done with ChildLine pushing this filth onto our kids. They cannot ignore this outcry any longer while they continue to promote child abuse under the guise of guidance.
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 11, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
April 9, 2021
570 Comments
This video was highly inappropriate. Porn is for adults, always has been and even adults would do better if they used their imagination rather than support this problematic and growing industry that is filled with degrading misogyny and often contains trafficking victims
I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and an ex telephone counsellor of childline and I am shocked Childline would promote pornography - especially after the recent pornhub scandal where it was caught allowing videos of trafficked minors
My middle son is 12...he is struggling with his porn use, I am trying to gently help him through it... Porn is damaging, I completely disagree with your video... Please make another one to replace it talking about the harms to children, women, men and society as a whole.
I work in children's safeguarding and I am shocked and appalled Childline has done this. The normalization of porn is absolutely linked to the rise in sexual harassment women and girls face daily. This pernicious film must be removed.
The video makes some reasonable comments about the harmful nature of porn, but they are right at the end, and are brushed off as though they are less important than how “fun and sexy” it is. Definitely not good advice for children.
Just when we thought grooming couldn't become much more normalised...
Please stop this evil
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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ChildLine finally pulled the video and acknowledged how dangerous it was to push this filth on our kids. We forced them to walk back their reckless promotion of porn and stop putting vulnerable young people at risk. Stay alert because we need to ensure they never try to normalize this …
September 13, 2021
Open letter to ChildLine: Stop normalising the use of pornography to children
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, have grave concerns about ChildLine’s sponsorship of the YouTube video ‘WTF is Porn?’ We urge ChildLine to withdraw the video and review the processes which have led to the publication of this harmful material.
‘WTF is Porn’ is aimed at young people, although there is no age specified. It tells children that “porn is great to watch” and gives impressionable and vulnerable children sexist, misogynistic, homophobic and racist porn categories to google, including:
Softcore, Hardcore, Lesbian, Thespian, Interracial, Facial, Alternative, Conservative, Hentai, Far Cry, BDSM, NEDM, Amateur, Mature and Swan Disco.
This is despite the founder of ChildLine Dame Esther Rantzen, saying six days before this video was put up, that:
“children are telling us very clearly that [porn] is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them.”
Furthermore, ChildLine became part of the NSPCC in 2006 and the NSPCC’s website says that showing children porn is “non-contact child abuse”.
ChildLine states it is for under 19s. The style of the video suggests it is aimed at those under 16. This material is therefore aimed squarely at children.
Adults have a responsibility to set parameters when it comes to the protection of children. There is no justification for normalising the use of pornography amongst children.
In failing to condemn the use of pornography the ChildLine video is effectively sacrificing the best interests of women and girls in order to seem ‘sex positive.’
It is perfectly possible to be positive about sex and healthy relationships whilst critiquing pornography and the abusive practices within it; indeed this is the backbone of responsible Relationships and Sex Education.
Government Guidance
The Disrespect Nobody website produced by the Home Office offers comprehensive advice on healthy relationships[1].
Guidance produced by the Department of Education[2] notes ‘use of technology has become a significant component of many safeguarding issues’ pointing out that ‘being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material; for example pornography’ is a core ‘area of risk’ with regard to online safety.
We hope ChildLine will heed these concerns and take action to keep children safe. In anticipation of a swift and positive response
Children do not need to see this video, but over the last 6 years, three million people have viewed it. How many of those views were children?
Please sign here to support the removal of this video.
End Notes
[1] HOME OFFICE, Disrespect Nobody [online] https://www.disrespectnobody.co.uk/ 2019 (accessed 7th April 2020)
[2] DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, Keeping Children Safe in Education, [Online}. 2015 (accessed 7th April 2020)
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
July 1, 2021
May 4, 2021
The massive surge in support proves parents are done with ChildLine pushing this filth onto our kids. They cannot ignore this outcry any longer while they continue to promote child abuse under the guise of guidance.
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 11, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
April 9, 2021
570 Comments
As a parent the thought that children can access porn, and even be encouraged to do so under the guise of education, is extremely worrying. There have been studies that pornography consumption can be harmful with links to effects on brain development and impotence.
This video was highly inappropriate. Porn is for adults, always has been and even adults would do better if they used their imagination rather than support this problematic and growing industry that is filled with degrading misogyny and often contains trafficking victims
I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and an ex telephone counsellor of childline and I am shocked Childline would promote pornography - especially after the recent pornhub scandal where it was caught allowing videos of trafficked minors
My middle son is 12...he is struggling with his porn use, I am trying to gently help him through it... Porn is damaging, I completely disagree with your video... Please make another one to replace it talking about the harms to children, women, men and society as a whole.
I work in children's safeguarding and I am shocked and appalled Childline has done this. The normalization of porn is absolutely linked to the rise in sexual harassment women and girls face daily. This pernicious film must be removed.
The video makes some reasonable comments about the harmful nature of porn, but they are right at the end, and are brushed off as though they are less important than how “fun and sexy” it is. Definitely not good advice for children.
Just when we thought grooming couldn't become much more normalised...
Please stop this evil
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As a parent the thought that children can access porn, and even be encouraged to do so under the guise of education, is extremely worrying. There have been studies that pornography consumption can be harmful with links to effects on brain development and impotence.