Online pornography

Your child may discover online pornography unintentionally, or they may go looking for it. Either way, you can play a role in helping them stay safe, understand what they’ve seen, and know they can come to you.

How do kids find pornography online?

• They actively search for explicit content (curiosity or because friends are talking about it).
• A friend or sibling (or an adult) may share inappropriate content.
• They mistype a word or click a search result/link that looks interesting but turns out to be explicit.
• They click on links in phishing or spam emails, or on pop-ups (even on otherwise harmless sites).

How can I protect my child?

• Set some ‘house rules’ — agree together on where, when and how devices can be used.
• Stay engaged — talk regularly and openly about what they’re doing online to build trust.
• Use the available technology — enable parental controls and search-safety settings on devices and browsers.
• Build resilience — age-appropriate conversations about consent, respect and relationships help them process what they may see.
• Consider raising the subject yourself — many experts suggest starting the conversation around 9+; choose a time that suits your child.
• Take a long-term view — remind them that if they see something they don’t understand, they can always come and ask you.

For teenagers, the most important message is that pornography is not real life.

What can I do if my child has found pornography online?

• Stay calm — thank them for telling you, reassure them you’ll sort it out together.
• Listen, assess, pause — ask what they found, where it happened and who (if anyone) showed it to them; avoid jumping into a lecture.
• Reassure they are not in trouble — avoid removing devices as punishment; focus on safety and learning.
• Be sensitive to feelings — discuss how the content made them feel and encourage questions.
• Talk about consent and respect — reinforce that healthy relationships require permission and kindness.

This material has been adapted with permission from the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner . Permission to adapt content does not constitute endorsement of material by the eSafety Commissioner.