Australia: Experts urge early discussions on consent and pornography

Experts are advising parents to begin age-appropriate conversations regarding consent, sex, and pornography with boys as young as nine. This recommendation follows research from the eSafety Commissioner indicating that 40% of surveyed adolescents encountered pornography before the age of 13.

Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey warns that when pornography serves as a primary educator, there is a risk that sexual violence becomes normalized. This concern is underscored by University of Melbourne research, which found that teenagers hold more hostile attitudes toward women than older generations. Specifically, 32% of boys aged 13 to 17 believed Australia has gone “too far” in providing equal opportunities for women, and 25% believe feminism should be resisted with violence.

Additionally, findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study indicate that teenage boys have surpassed adult men as the most likely perpetrators of sexual violence against minors.