Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697642137391.pdf (Australia)
SUBMISSION regarding: ‘HARM BEING DONE TO AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN THROUGH ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET’ Dear Members of the Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications, Thank you for the opportunity to send a submission regarding the harms to children by pornography.

I have many concerns regarding the easy accessibility in Australia of pornography on the Internet.

UNFORTUNATELY, 36% of Internet content is pornographic.
There are many potential INTERNET harms to Australian children, such as:- 1.

2.

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Harmful websites – including those promoting self-harm, anorexia, suicide, terrorism and pornography.

The harmful impact of pornography on children when used as a ‘grooming’ tool for sexual exploitation of the child by paedophiles.

The negative impact of young children’s learned predatory sexual behaviour towards other children as a result of exposure to pornography.
The negative long term social, emotional and health impacts of pornography on young children.

The damaging impact of viewing pornography depicting sexual acts that are: violent; sadistic; demeaning and deviant with inappropriate depictions of males coercing females.

Pornography causing callous attitudes towards children/people being used as sexual commodities and objects for exploitation.

Lack of affection, love or kindness in pornographic encounters.
Unrealistic body images of females portrayed on internet causing feelings of inferiority, inadequacy and insecurity regarding body image by pubertal and young teenaged girls, resulting in requests for unnecessary plastic surgery of external genitals and breasts.

Female children and teenagers suffering from low self esteem from comparison with pornographic images, becoming vulnerable to coercion, exploitation and humiliation by males.
Depression and fear that sexually explicit photographs will be circulated by former ‘boyfriends.

10.

Depression in young girls leading to suicide.

11.

Inability of male children influenced by pornography to relate in a friendly and normal manner towards girls.

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Physical harm to children through sexual exploitation through exposure to pornography leading to sexual encounters, may result in sexually transmitted disease infections, forced abortion, and other physical injuries as a result of rape and anal intercourse.

13.

Harmful impacts on children from domestic violence in the home as a result of parents’ or siblings’ addiction to pornography.

14.

Harmful depictions of group sex and rape.


Introduction to physically harmful and cruel sexual practices, such as anal intercourse.

15.

Children being coerced by predators into sexual acts by exposure to internet pornography.

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Exploitation of children by paedophiles who may use pornography as a recruiting or ‘grooming’ agent.

Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the InternetSubmission 163 17.
Emotional and social confusion through the premature induction of children into a deviant adult sexual world.

18.

Physical, social and emotional harm sustained by the child by the addictive nature of pornography.

19.

Increasingly harmful withdrawal by the child into the unreal world of addictive pornography.

Lack of participation in age appropriate child’s play and friendships.

Relationships with other children soured by predatory behaviour of children influenced by pornography.

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Bullying by ‘boyfriends’ who may post humiliating photos of victims of pornography on ‘You-Tube’.

21.

Use of the internet by paedophiles to show pornographic images of child victims.

THE ABOVE HARMS TO AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN BY PORNOGRAPHY SHOULD BE URGENTLY ADDRESSED BY FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY INSTITUTING BY LAW EFFECTIVE PORNOGRAPHY BLOCKERS TO BE USED BY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN AUSTRALIA.

In the UK, pornography is no longer regarded as a censorship issue.
Instead it is a public health issue.

See for example: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother- tongue/11554595/Pornography-has changed-thelandscape-ofadolescence-beyond-all- recognition.html.
As a matter of urgency, I respectfully request that the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications would please recommend that all Australian Internet Service Providers must provide effective filters against pornography as the standard default setting in Australian (as has been done effectively in the United Kingdom).

Yours faithfully, Isobel C Gawler (Registered Nurse) Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the InternetSubmission 163