Whether via search engines, messengers or social media – many children and young people today come across pornographic content online at an early age. This often happens by chance, sometimes out of curiosity. For parents, this is frightening at first – but an interest in sexuality is part of normal development. The important thing is that children and young people can learn how to deal with such content – if they are supported in doing so.
While pornographic content used to be available only to a limited extent and usually for a fee – for example in video stores or special magazines – it can now be accessed online at any time and often free of charge. Children and young people not only access such content via traditional porn sites – sexualized images can also be found on social networks or via messengers. A click on a picture or a random link is often enough.
Although platforms such as TikTok and Instagram do not show explicit pornography, they often contain very revealing, sexualized content that can be confusing or disturbing, especially for younger people. Internet forums such as Reddit also have sub-forums with explicit content – they are not always clearly marked as such and can be accessed with just a few clicks.
OnlyFans, originally intended for paid content, is also frequently used for erotic or pornographic posts. Although the platform is officially only accessible from the age of 18, such content also reaches other channels via screenshots, redirects or third-party providers – often without age control.
New trends around artificial intelligence are particularly controversial: with little effort, deceptively real deepfakes can be created – pornographic videos in which the face of classmates or a well-known person is inserted. This is not only a form of digital violence, but also a criminal offense. Children and young people need to know that such content is hurtful, illegal – and can have serious consequences.
In Germany, it is regulated by law that children and young people under the age of 18 may not have access to pornographic content. This is based on the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media (JMStV) and the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG), which classify such content as developmentally harmful.
However, some content is not only prohibited for minors, but is generally punishable – regardless of age:
Despite these regulations, the challenge in practice is to effectively implement the protection of children and young people, especially in the digital age. Providers of pornographic content are obliged to ensure that only adults are granted access – for example through age verification systems. In practice, however, many platforms are based abroad and do not implement these controls adequately. A simple click on “I am 18” is often enough to gain access.
Since 2024, the EU’s Digital Services Act has obliged all providers to take stricter measures to protect minors. Some large platforms (e.g. Pornhub, xHamster) now block users from Europe without proof of age. Nevertheless, there are still loopholes that make it difficult to protect children and young people.
Porn is often appealing to adolescents in puberty – partly because of the ban. Many young people get information online – especially if sexuality is not discussed at home. This can lead to misconceptions:
Some young people use porn to escape from everyday life – this can develop into a habit or even an addiction.
The best protection is not an app, but an open relationship: talk to your child – even about difficult topics such as pornography. The earlier you start talking about sexuality, the less your child will have to search for it in secret.
Show interest instead of punishing. Explain that porn is staged and often has little to do with real sexuality. Make it clear that those who are informed can deal with such content more confidently and critically.
Important tips:
Use offers of help
Report content
Has your child come across problematic or illegal content? You can report these sites together:
