Hi there,

It’s natural for some young people to be curious about porn or to have seen it, especially as they’re starting to become sexually attracted to other people. It’s important to remember that porn isn’t reality, and what you’re seeing isn’t the same as real life. Remember, if someone shows you porn as a young person, that can be sexual abuse.

Porn doesn’t show what happens in relationships or how people’s bodies look. It’s a fantasy. Being sexually active is very different to the fantasy that’s shown, so you don’t need to act or look like the things you’ve seen, and you don’t need to try and recreate it.

Some people are negatively affected by watching porn, especially if they struggle with the amount they watch. If you’re concerned about the amount of porn you’re watching, there are ways to reduce it. Try setting limits on when and how often you do. If you’re struggling, we’ve got advice about porn and you can get support from Childline any time.

One way to make sure watching porn doesn’t impact your relationships is to learn more about healthy relationships and what that looks like in real life. We’ve got lots of information on sex and consent to help you think about the future, as well as what a healthy relationship looks like.

Take care,

Sam