Children as young as eight are accessing hardcore pornography online every month, shocking new figures reveal – as experts warn of a “tidal wave” of young addicts now seeking rehab for porn and sex addiction.
A new analysis into children’s online behaviour shows that 8% of 8 to 14-year-olds in the UK visited a porn site or app every month – with around 3% of 8-9 year olds among them. The research also showed that most children who access online content are not even asked to prove their age.
The figures examined by the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT) and drawn from official sources, found that 70% of 8-17 year olds said they had never been asked to verify their age on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok – services which can host sexual or harmful content.
Worryingly, 20% of children aged 8–17 with their own online profile had falsely registered their age as 18 or older, meaning platforms automatically treat them as adults.
The data comes after new government regulations came into force last week (Friday) requiring porn sites to verify the age of users, ending the era of simple “I am over 18” tick-boxes. But critics say the horse has already bolted.
UKAT, one of the UK’s leading addiction clinics, reported that porn and sex addiction referrals in under-25s had doubled at its nationwide clinics since Covid, with some young people admitting their problem started when they first accessed porn aged just seven.
In 2019 the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT) treated 73 under-25s for porn and sex addiction. By 2024, this had risen to 148, meaning the clinic now sees an average of three young people a week for porn-related issues.
80% of these patients admitted their compulsive behaviour began from viewing extreme porn online at a young age. One young male patient who was treated at one of UKAT’s clinics said online porn had triggered him to have ‘hundreds’ of sexual partners and engage in risky behaviour.
Zaheen Ahmed, Director of Therapy at UKAT, said: “It’s far too easy for a child to fake their age when creating an online profile. Even with these new regulations, our concern is that tech-savvy kids will find a way around them.”
“We know from our patients in rehab that exposure to porn from a young age can damage their emotional, sexual, and psychological development. It can warp attitudes, increase risky behaviour and even lead to relationship breakdowns later in life.”
“Porn addiction can ruin a life just as much as drug addiction.”
From Friday porn websites must comply with new rules under the Online Safety Act, requiring age checks for those identifying as over-18. This includes facial age estimation, credit card checks, open banking, or using digital ID systems.
PornHub – the UK’s most visited adult site – says it is now compliant. But critics are sceptical about whether checks will work or be properly enforced.
Experts say that children are able to circumvent age verification rules. Some use VPNs to disguise their location and bypass UK restrictions by pretending to be in another country.
Others use borrowed logins from their parents’, or older siblings’ or friends’ credentials to gain access.
Other hacks include creating fake ID tools and false documents.
Zaheen Ahmed added:
“The burden of responsibility lies with the tech platforms. They must go beyond box-ticking exercises and actually stop children from accessing this content. We cannot keep patching up the trauma in rehab – prevention is key.”
Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, said the new changes mark a turning point:
“For too long, online services have ignored the fact that children are accessing porn. Either they don’t ask for age or, when they do, it’s easy to get around.
“That ends today. We’ll be watching closely – and those companies that fail to act can expect enforcement action.”