A survey conducted by the Slovenian awareness centre Safe.si among Slovenian teenagers revealed that 44 per cent of teenagers in primary school and 62 per cent of teenagers in secondary school have already encountered online pornography. 

The survey was conducted from February to April 2023 as part of the activities for Safer Internet Day 2023. 566 primary school pupils aged 12-15 and 453 secondary school pupils aged 15-19 participated. 

Almost half of teenagers (46 per cent) who have encountered online pornography did so between the ages of 12 and 14, and a third (34 per cent) between the ages of 9 and 11. Between the ages of 6 and 9, eight per cent of teenagers have been exposed to pornography, six per cent before the age of six. Early exposure to this type of content has a negative impact on the understanding of sexuality and can lead to problems in partner relationships and first sexual encounters later on. Most teenagers – 54 per cent of primary school pupils and 72 per cent of secondary school pupils - felt curious at the first contact. However, they also had negative feelings: 25 per cent of primary school pupils and 39 per cent of secondary school pupils felt confused and 34 per cent of primary school pupils and 19 per cent of secondary school pupils felt uncomfortable. 

Viewing online pornography 

Most teenagers use their mobile phones to view online pornography (89 per cent of primary school pupils and 97 per cent of secondary school pupils), and they view it alone (91 per cent). However, some also watch it with friends (25 per cent of primary school pupils and 19 per cent of secondary school pupils) and with a boyfriend or girlfriend (10 per cent of primary school pupils and 16 per cent of secondary school pupils). Less than 10 per cent watch it with a brother or sister. 

One fifth of primary school pupils and one quarter of secondary school pupils watch pornography frequently, one fifth of primary school pupils and one third of secondary school pupils watch it occasionally. Of those who watch pornography frequently or occasionally, 60 per cent watch several times a week and 25 per cent once a week. 

10 per cent of primary school pupils and 15 per cent of secondary school pupils who watch pornography feel addicted to it. As many as 14 per cent of secondary school pupils said that they need more and more extreme forms of pornography to satisfy themselves. Unpleasant feelings about sex (fear, disgust, etc.) are experienced by 14 per cent of primary school pupils and 8 per cent of secondary school pupils. 

Almost half of primary school teenagers and two fifths of secondary school pupils who have encountered pornography online have seen sexually violent pornographic images. 

Undesirable content and events 

One third of all 12-to 15-year-olds and half of all 15-to 19-year-olds surveyed have already received sexual or nude pictures or videos from another person. Of these, 80 per cent of primary school pupils and 60 per cent of secondary school pupils did not want to receive such images. 

5 per cent of primary school pupils and 14 per cent of secondary school pupils have sent a video of themselves naked or exposed to someone. 43 per cent of primary school pupils and 23 per cent of secondary school pupils have shared this image without consent. 

Teenagers' attitudes towards online pornography 

58 per cent of primary school pupils and only 45 per cent of secondary school students agree that it is not right for online pornography to be so easily accessible. However, 70 per cent of primary school pupils and 62 per cent of secondary school students believe that it can harm children and teenagers. One-fifth of elementary school students and a quarter of high school students think that they can learn what real sexuality is from pornography. 

Almost half of primary school pupils (47 per cent) and 42 per cent of secondary school pupils agree that pornography degrades women and promotes hatred and violence against them. This is not the case for 28 per cent of primary school pupils and 35 per cent of secondary school pupils. 

Only one third of teenagers have ever discussed sex with their parents, while only 11 per cent of primary school pupils and 16 per cent of secondary school pupils have discussed pornography with parents at home. One third of primary school pupils and two fifths of secondary school pupils think that sex and pornography are not talked about enough at school. Pornography is used by 21 per cent of primary school pupils and 16 per cent of secondary school pupils to learn about sex. 

Find out more about the work of the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services, or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.