Over two-thirds of teenagers encountered violent pornographic imagery, often while they were still minors, according to a study by the Verwey-Jonker Institute. Commissioned by the children’s rights organisation Defence for Children, the research surveyed over one thousand respondents and found that nearly a quarter first encountered such images by accident at age 14 or younger. While one in six intentionally sought out the material, nearly a quarter of respondents aged 18 to 27 reported seeing images of child sexual abuse. Many participants who viewed this content reported feeling shocked by the depicted violence, expressing emotions such as disgust, shame, fear, or sadness. Consequently, Defence for Children warns that witnessing violence during sex harms the sexual development of young people and can lead to significant mental health problems.
Impact of harmful content and digital risks
The researchers define violence broadly, including incest, assault, physical abuse, and exploitation. Notably, they also include violent sexual acts performed with consent, such as BDSM, because viewers find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between consensual acts and non-consensual violence. Defence for Children blames the current digital environment for failing to protect young people. Because platforms do not sufficiently monitor chat apps, social media, and games, users who begin with legal material are often quickly exposed to violent or illegal sexual content via harmful algorithms.
To address these risks, the organisation advocates for stricter supervision and enhanced enforcement against criminal content. Carrie van der Kroon, Director at Defence for Children, emphasizes that children deserve the same safety in the digital world as they do in the physical world. She maintains that the responsibility for content exposure does not lie with the child; instead, tech companies must take accountability for allowing such content to pollute their platforms.
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