FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sydney - Leading academics, educators and child advocates are set to gather on Safer Internet Day February 9, at the University of New South Wales to discuss the harmful impacts of early pornography exposure on children, including medical problems, emotional harm, abusive mind-sets and risky sexual behaviours.
The ground-breaking symposium will hear a growing body of evidence that children are increasingly being harmed by premature exposure to graphic sexual content online.
The Australian-first symposium will discuss the latest findings from a diverse range of multidisciplinary stakeholders including researchers, child protection experts, psychologists and sexologists. Speakers include:
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Associate Professor Dr. Michael Flood (University of Wollongong) on pornography and masculinity
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Maree Crabbe (Project Coordinator Reality and Risk) on violence and pornography
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“Cyber Cop” Susan McLean (Cyber Safety Solution), on the problem of pornography in schools
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Psychologist Dr Joe Tucci (Australian Childhood Foundation), on the links between exposure to pornography and problem sexual behavior including children acting out on other children..
Symposium spokesperson Coralie Alison of Collective Shout, said the community rightly expected children, who were being exposed at an unprecedented rate, to be protected from unsuitable content.
“However, despite the best efforts of parents and teachers, the reality is that children today are just one click away from a deluge of violent, degrading, aggressive content – much of it showcasing the abuse of women.”
According to the research to be presented at the conference:
- Over 60% of girls and over 90% of boys have viewed online porn
- Children as young as four are being referred to programs for problem sexual behaviour
- Pornography is increasingly serving as the default sex educator for young people
- Pornography has been shown to fuel sexual abuse among minors
“There is growing evidence that this is a public health crisis, with a generation of children on the frontline.”
Other speakers include Liz Walker (Youth Wellbeing Project), Dr Caroline Norma (RMIT University), Dr. Helen Pringle (UNSW), Dr Lesley-Anne Ey (University of South Australia), Holly-Ann Martin (Safe4Kids), Hugh Martin (Man Enough), Collett Smart and Melinda Tankard Reist (Author, Collective Shout).
“Pornography and Harms to Children and Young People”, Feb. 9, 2016, 8:30am – 5pm, University of New South Wales (Matthews Theatre)