An update from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner...

The idea that online pornography is a private matter with no wider consequences is not only outdated but dangerously wrong. 

Last week, I attended the Cambridge–Stanford Addiction Policy Forum alongside clinicians, academics and policymakers examining emerging threats in addiction. One of the most alarming trends discussed was the sharp rise in online pornography addiction, particularly among young people, and the profound harm it is causing to behaviour, relationships and attitudes toward women and girls.

This is not sensationalism. It is based on evidence and in the realities playing out in homes, schools, communities and courts across the UK.

Young people are growing up in a digital world where extreme and degrading sexual content is accessible within seconds. For many, exposure begins in childhood or early adolescence, often before they have developed an understanding of healthy relationships, consent or respect. What they are consuming is not representative of intimacy. Increasingly, it is violent, misogynistic and normalised.

We are seeing a generation, particularly of young men, whose expectations of sex and relationships are shaped by content that dehumanises women and, in some cases, children. Empathy is eroded and harmful power dynamics are reinforced. At the same time, young women report growing pressure to meet these expectations, often at the cost of their safety, autonomy and dignity.

As Police and Crime Commissioner, I see the devastating impact of violence against women and girls every day: domestic abuse, coercive control and sexual violence. While the causes are complex, we cannot ignore the role harmful online content plays in normalising aggression, control and degradation.

The evidence is increasingly clear. Higher consumption of violent pornography is associated with greater acceptance of harmful behaviour, reduced sensitivity to consent and an increased likelihood of perpetrating abuse. It also fuels addiction patterns similar to substance misuse, including compulsion, escalation and withdrawal from real‑world relationships.

This is not just a policing issue. It is a public health challenge, a safeguarding priority and a societal challenge.

Whilst age‑verification measures and new legislation are welcome steps forward, regulation continues to struggle to keep pace with the scale and speed of online platforms. We need a far more robust response.

That means holding technology companies accountable for the content they host, investing in education that equips young people to navigate consent and respect in a digital age, and recognising pornography addiction as a serious and growing harm.

If we are serious about protecting young people, support and education must be visible, accessible and free from stigma.

For those seeking help: