Pornography and offensive content
Risk of unintentional exposure to inappropriate or prohibited content for minors
of boys aged 12-13 visit pornographic websites.
(ARCOM study, May 2023)
Victim of offensive content? Contact 3018!
What is it about?
Digital technology increases the risk of children being unintentionally exposed to inappropriate content (content depicting acts of physical violence, abusive, hateful or racist language, etc.) or prohibited to minors (pornography), via banner ads, pop-up windows or by typing a sometimes innocuous keyword into a search engine. Children seek out information because they need to understand situations that they do not grasp and that their parents find difficult to talk about.
Despite the installation of parental controls, the risk is very real, whether on the family computer, a friend's phone or tablet, etc. Access to these images may be motivated by morbid curiosity, the desire to test one's limits, peer pressure, or the search for adrenaline. All of these factors reinforce young people's attraction to this extreme content.
Exposure to violent or shocking content can cause problems in children that are not always visible (difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, anxiety, trivialisation of violence, aggression, etc.). Be alert to these behavioural changes.
The exposure of adolescents to violent content online is a major issue. According to a study by IFOP (2022), exposure to violent content among children has risen from 39% to 61% in just a few years. The High Council for Public Health (HCSP) indicates that repeated viewing of violent scenes can have a lasting impact on young people's psychological development.
What does the law say?
The law protects minors content that it considers detrimental, i.e. pornographic, violent, racist or offensive content.
The act of leaving pornographic content freely accessible to a minor is punishable from three-year prison sentence and from €75,000 fine (Article 227-24 of the Criminal Code).
The Act No. 2020-936 of 30 July 2020 aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence provides that the mere fact of requiring users to declare their age in order to access pornographic content online is not sufficient to exempt pornographic websites from criminal liability.
Article 23 of that same law entrusts the President of the Audiovisual Council (CSA) the power to intervene with website publishers or hosts, requesting them to take action to protect minors.
How can you protect your child from pornographic and offensive content?
- Install parental controls to filter access to websites and create a restricted list of sites that your child can visit (the «white» list, for younger children, creates an internet universe limited to a few sites, while the «black» list blocks illegal sites or those prohibited to minors). However, parental controls do not replace vigilance: it is important to regularly check the sites your child is visiting.
- Adapt their digital practice according to their age. For example, social media is a major source of pornographic or offensive content, so avoid leaving your children, especially younger ones, alone on these platforms. Also, be wary. with voice assistants which provide very easy access to a wide range of information.
- Raise your child's awareness : They need to know that they may find content on the Internet that is inappropriate for their age. Explain what this means and that they should tell you if they ever see anything like this. Do not hesitate to talk to them (from the age of 8–9) about the existence of pornography. They will be warned and more likely to talk to you about it.
- Need assistance? Contact 3018: If you are a parent, professional or young person concerned, the 3018 is a free and confidential service that provides support, advice and protection against exposure to offensive content.
What should you do if your child has been exposed to offensive content?
- Open dialogue without judgement Reassure your child and explain that this content does not reflect reality.
- Guide their browsing Discuss the websites he visits, without judgement, and install digital protection tools.
- Raise awareness of psychological effects: Even if they feel «strong», their brains process these images as a real-life experience. This can cause anxiety, nightmares and desensitisation to violence.
- Report offensive content : Use Pharos (internet-reporting.gouv.fr) to report dangerous content. Consult Iprotectmychild.gov.uk which offers practical information on parental control and advice on sex education for young children to help them anticipate their first questions.
- Please call 3018 to obtain specialised support and advice.
In general, please do not hesitate to contact us for support for you and your child.
Need assistance?
Bullying, cyberbullying, revenge porn, webcam blackmail, identity theft, gender-based and sexual violence, exposure to violent and pornographic content, etc., and all issues related to usage (video games, parental controls, account settings, overexposure to screens).
News
Misinformation and gender equality: the e-Enfance / 3018 Observatory highlights its new project
Within the e-Enfance / 3018 Association, the Observatory has played a key role since August 2025
Online masculinist discourse: a challenge for the protection of minors
When platforms amplify sexist discourse, it is the construction of young people that is at risk.
Les Combats Invisibles return: a manga against harassment
A manga for understanding and combating harassment The “Les Combats Invisibles” series is not just about
