Should it be banned for all? From July, all porn websites must have strict age checks to prevent British children from accessing them. But some argue that the new rules do not go far enough.
Under-18s set to be blocked from porn
Should it be banned for all? From July, all porn websites must have strict age checks to prevent British children from accessing them. But some argue that the new rules do not go far enough.
The atmosphere in London's Trafalgar SquareA public square in the centre of London. Protests are often held there. was noisy and ecstatic. Over 30,000 people had gathered from across the country. There were loud cheers as the speakers on the platform proclaimed the message: "Moral pollution needs a solution!" Later the rally moved to Hyde Park, where Cliff RichardA British singer and actor, born in 1940. sang.
This was the culmination of the 1971 Nationwide Festival of Light. A Christian-based movement, it demanded stricter censorshipPreventing or stopping speech, writing or communication that is considered harmful or "inconvenient". laws to combat pornographyPictures, videos or text with sexual imagery, made with the intention of causing sexual arousal. .
The protests had little effect and the porn industry continued to grow. Those who took part could not have imagined how easily available porn would become in the internet age.
Researchers say the average age at which young people in the UK first see pornography is 13. One child in 10 sees it by the age of 9.1 Growing up in the US, singer Billie Eilish was exposed to porn at 11 and suffered nightmares as a result.2
Now action is being taken by the regulator OfcomThe Office of Communications regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and the postal industry in the UK. . As a result of the Online Safety ActA UK law regulating "harmful" online speech and media, passed in October 2023., all websites which include porn will have to check users' age - for example, by demanding a photo ID.
Two years ago LouisianaA US state in the southeast of the country, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is known for its history involving French, African, American and French-Canadian cultures. introduced similar controls. As a result, traffic to the Pornhub site from the state dropped by 80%.
But Pornhub's owners claimed that the move was "haphazard and dangerous". Users, they said, "did not stop looking for porn, they just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age".
Some, however, feel that the legislationLegislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government. should go further still and ban porn altogether. In an article for Prospect, Sarah Ditum argues that porn is "deeply misogynisticStrong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women. , profoundly racist, routinely abusive". The feministSomeone who calls for women's rights and equality of the sexes. poet Robin Morgan wrote that "pornography is the theory and rape is the practice".
A particular area of concern is the rise in people choking their partners during sex. The possible effects range from death to brain damage, yet more than half those questioned in a survey of Australians aged 18 to 35 said they had experienced it. Of those, 34.8% had discovered it through porn.3
On another side of the argument are those who support free speech. They believe that a ban on porn could spread into a ban on things the authorities simply do not like. In some US states important works of literature have been removed from libraries simply because they contain references to sex.
Should it be banned for all?
Yes: Pornography warps people's minds and leads to acts of sexual harassment and violence. Adults are as vulnerable to its effects as children, so they too should be protected from it.
No: Censorship is generally a bad thing. Sex is a private matter in which the state should not interfere. Not all porn is hard core and adults should be allowed to watch it if they want to.
Or... No ban could ever be entirely effective. As with drugs, making porn illegal would simply turn it into a money-spinner for criminals who found a way of supplying it and encourage violent rivalry.
Trafalgar Square - A public square in the centre of London. Protests are often held there.
Cliff Richard - A British singer and actor, born in 1940.
Censorship - Preventing or stopping speech, writing or communication that is considered harmful or "inconvenient".
Pornography - Pictures, videos or text with sexual imagery, made with the intention of causing sexual arousal.
Ofcom - The Office of Communications regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and the postal industry in the UK.
Online safety act - A UK law regulating "harmful" online speech and media, passed in October 2023.
Louisiana - A US state in the southeast of the country, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is known for its history involving French, African, American and French-Canadian cultures.
Legislation - Legislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government.
Misogynistic - Strong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women.
Feminist - Someone who calls for women's rights and equality of the sexes.
Under-18s set to be blocked from porn

Glossary
Trafalgar Square - A public square in the centre of London. Protests are often held there.
Cliff Richard - A British singer and actor, born in 1940.
Censorship - Preventing or stopping speech, writing or communication that is considered harmful or "inconvenient".
Pornography - Pictures, videos or text with sexual imagery, made with the intention of causing sexual arousal.
Ofcom - The Office of Communications regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and the postal industry in the UK.
Online safety act - A UK law regulating "harmful" online speech and media, passed in October 2023.
Louisiana - A US state in the southeast of the country, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is known for its history involving French, African, American and French-Canadian cultures.
Legislation - Legislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government.
Misogynistic - Strong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women.
Feminist - Someone who calls for women's rights and equality of the sexes.