Child therapist warns of online porn dangers

‘The impact of pornography is huge.’ A child therapist explains why misogynistic men have a problem with women.

A child therapist has blamed online pronography and hate speach for fuelling domestic violence. Picture: istock

Misogyny and sexual assaults are spreading among schoolboys exposed to violent pornography and hate speech online, a leading children’s counsellor has warned.

Jackie Bateman, an experienced children’s therapist who oversees the Kids First Australia sexual assault counselling and prevention program, revealed that children as young as seven have sexually assaulted siblings and classmates.

She said the alleged behaviour under investigation at Sydney’s elite Cranbrook school pointed to a broader problem of how female teachers and students are treated across the education sector.

Ms Bateman called on parents and teachers to challenge the influence of social media figures like Andrew Tate – who has told his TikTok followers that women belong in the home, and talked about hitting and choking women.

“I’ve been working in this sector for 26 years, both in the UK and now in Australia, and the impact of pornography is absolutely huge,’’ she told The Australian.

“It’s really skewing a young person’s understanding around what is a healthy consenting relationship.

“It’s also very confusing for young males in terms of what masculinity looks like, because often pornography centres on violence and a lack of consent.

“We know that impacts of an increase in family violence … there’s an increase in gendered violence.’’

Ms Bateman said she was concerned that Kids First Australia was seeing more children younger than 10 as victims of child-to-child sexual violence, or displaying “harmful sexual behaviours”.

“Because there is an increase in access to pornography, we see concerning behaviours in that age group, as well as language,’’ she said.

“That can be attacking other children, that can at times be penetration.

“There might be digital penetration, putting their hands down somebody else’s knickers or pants.

“It doesn’t just occur once somebody hits puberty … but the age bracket between 13 and 15 is where we get most of our referrals.

“Obviously there is sibling abuse that occurs.’’

Kids First Australia is seeing more younger children involved in child-to-child sexual abuse.

Ms Bateman said children can unintentionally view violent pornography online.

“There’ll be pop-ups when people are playing games, or when they’re engaged in conversations through other social media platforms,’’ she said.

Ms Bateman said that confronting misogynistic behaviour in schools was a “leadership challenge’’ for principals.

“The challenge is to move on principals that allow harmful and misogynistic behaviour to occur, but also to ensure that we are tackling these views directly in schools through education programs,’’ she said.

“Research tells us there is a clear link between hostility towards women and subsequent aggression towards women.

“Among the many steps needed to end the plague of violence against women in Australia, is swiftly and appropriately dealing with individuals in places of power and influence that perpetuate these attitudes.’’

Ms Bateman said social media has left some children and teenagers “confused’’ about how to be in a safe, respectful relationship.

“Some people have struggled to know how to do that, because of what has been modelled to them,’’ she said.

“(Domestic violence) is increasing … it’s important that we get this right because they’re going to be the next parents.’’

Ms Bateman urged parents to have “open, transparent conversations’’ with their children about sex, pornography and online hate messages, and to delay giving them a smartphone with internet access.

She said parents would find it easier to monitor children’s online use if they keep televisions and computers in family areas, such as kitchens and lounge rooms, instead of in children’ bedrooms.