Children as young as nine are being exposed to explicit and violent pornography through social media platforms, according to Bernie McNally, head of Northern Ireland’s child safeguarding board. Speaking to MPs, she called the scale of the issue “beyond belief” and urged for greater education and intervention at school and community levels.

Social media has made pornography easily accessible and disturbingly normalised among young people—so much so that teachers are being asked by students how to “choke a woman,” with many teen girls reporting choking as a regular part of sexual activity. McNally warned that influencers are partly to blame for the rise of these dangerous behaviours.

Meanwhile, experts highlighted how misogynistic abuse online is often monetised for profit and is silencing women in Northern Ireland, pushing many out of digital spaces entirely. Shockingly, major social media companies appeared unaware of high-profile local abuse cases, calling into question their ability to protect young users.

👀 Takeaway: Online safety isn’t just about content filters. It’s about recognising the cultural shift being driven by platforms that profit from shock, misogyny, and influence. Schools, families, and regulators all have a role to play, but platforms must face real accountability.

BBC -> Read the full article