UK children see surge in violent porn and sexualised AI deepfake abuse online

A new report shows that the proportion of children who have encountered online pornography has risen, with half reporting exposure to violent content such as strangulation and 44% seeing depictions of rape. Six‑year‑olds and younger are among those reporting exposure. The X platform is now the most common source, cited by 45% of respondents, up from 35% for dedicated porn sites. The research, conducted before new age‑verification rules took effect, prompted Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza to say the measures “provide a real opportunity to make children's safety online a non‑negotiable priority for everyone: policymakers, big tech giants and smaller tech developers.”

Separately, experts warn that UK schools are being blackmailed with sexualised AI deep‑fake images of pupils. A former national policing lead for child protection warned that “online sexual abuse of children is reaching pandemic levels.” The combined threats highlight escalating risks of sexual exploitation and harmful content for minors on digital platforms.