Alex's Answer

Hi there and welcome to ask Alex.   

We understand that it can be a difficult thing to reach out and talk about what’s going on for you, but we feel that this can be a really helpful thing for young people to do, so thank you and well done for taking the first step. 

It sounds like you’ve been exposed to porn, and you’d like to know what to do about it.  

When exposed to something like porn, it can be very upsetting or distressing for you, especially if you haven’t consented to it. According to the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, exposing a child to pornography is an example of sexual abuse. It’s important to remember that you have the right to be safe and happy, and that you shouldn’t be exposed to something that would make you feel otherwise. You can read more about what constitutes as sexual abuse here: https://www.childline.ie/what-is-sexual-abuse/. It’s also important to remember that if you ever feel that you are in immediate risk of harm, you can contact the emergency services on 999 or 112 and they will help you. 

If the pornography was something you unintentionally came across online, you might find this article around online safely helpful for preventing this from happening again: https://www.childline.ie/how-to-protect-yourself-from-inappropriate-content/ as it has some good tips on how to keep yourself safe on the Internet. Keep in mind that all online platforms have good and bad parts, and we need to exercise caution when browsing the web. 

Since we are discussing porn, it’s helpful to remember that it is not a realistic representation of sex, and this can sometimes influence how we view ourselves, other people and our relationships. 

One of the things that can be helpful in situations like this is chatting to an adult you trust. This could be a parent, family member, teacher or youth worker. Sharing with an adult can help ensure you keep safe and make sure it won’t happen again, and it might be a major relief for you discussing how it made you feel.   

You can also contact us here at Childline on phone 1800 666 666, free text 50101 or online chat at www.childline.ie if you aren’t yet ready to discuss your experience with an adult in your life. We would be more than happy to chat to you some more about this or provide support around how keep you safe online and in general. 

We hope that you have found this answer useful and look forward to chatting to you some more. 

Take care, 

Alex