Research: The Faithfull Papers

What’s porn got to do with it? The link between viewing adult pornography and online sexual offending against children

Opinions about legal adult pornography are often polarised. Some people claim it is a self-centred activity that impairs sexuality with a partner and fosters unhealthy sexual attitudes. Others say it is a modern way of expressing sexuality.

What’s porn got to do with it? The link between viewing adult pornography and online sexual offending against children

Opinions about legal adult pornography are often polarised. Some people claim it is a self-centred activity that impairs sexuality with a partner and fosters unhealthy sexual attitudes. Others say it is a modern way of expressing sexuality.

But through our work, we hear a different side of the story. Every year, we speak to hundreds of men who tell us that legal adult pornography contributes to problems in their intimate and wider relationships, their social and work lives, and their view of themselves. Most significantly, we hear that legal adult pornography sometimes contributes to them viewing illegal sexual images of under-18s.

Published: 26 February 2025

This Paper explores key trends from 23 years of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Stop It Now helpline. This pioneering anonymous service exists to prevent child sexual abuse. Since 2002, we’ve given more than 79,000 people confidential support and expert guidance.

Published: 12 September 2024

Technological interventions can deter people online from causing harm to children. From simple warning messages to behaviour-challenging chatbots, we are working on a range of initiatives to make life online safer for young

Published: 27 March 2024

The sexual abuse of children has a devastating impact on them and their families. To protect children, we must intervene with parents. At the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, one of our growing areas of work is in the delivery of assessments of ability to protect, and protective parenting interventions.