12 per cent of children take part in DIY porn videos

Whilst one in ten 12 to 13-year-olds worry they are porn addicts, according to a survey by Childline.

12% of 12 to 13-year-olds have made or featured in sexually explicit videos, according to an NSPCC Childline survey of 700 children.

The survey also states that one in five children in the age group say watching porn is ‘normal behaviour’, whilst one in 10 are concerned about becoming addicted.

Childline Founder, Dame Esther Rantzen, said that children as young as 11 had contacted the service with concerns about pornography.

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, to ensure that they gain a proper perspective between real life relationships and the fantasy world of porn.”

The charity helpline launched its Fight Against Porn Zombies (FAPZ) campaign to inform young people about the harm that watching porn can cause.

The campaign uses animation to explain the harmful effects of replicating pornographic content in real life.

Children reported that watching porn made them feel depressed, gave them body image issues and put pressure on them to engage in sex acts they are not ready for, according to Peter Liver, Director of ChildLine.

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 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.“

The charity suggests that one in five children, between 12 and 13 had seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them, but that watching porn is very much “a part of everyday life” for many children.

One boy, under the age of 15, told ChildLine he was “always watching porn, and some of it is quite aggressive”.

He said: “I didn't think it was affecting me at first but I've started to view girls a bit differently recently and it's making me worried.

”I would like to get married in the future but I'm scared it might never happen if I carry on thinking about girls the way I do.”

Young people post approximately 18,000 messages regarding exposure to porn on the ChildLine discussion forums every month.