A NEW Childline campaign has been launched after a shocking poll of 12 to 13 year olds revealed one in ten are worried they are addicted to porn.

THE NSPCC Childline service has launched the ‘Fight Against Porn Zombies' to help children understand the implications of over-exposure to pornography.

It follows the worrying results of a nationwide poll, which showed almost ten per cent of 12 to 13 year olds feared they might be addicted, one in five said they had seen pornographic images which shocked or upset them, and 12 per cent admitted to making or having been part of a sexually explicit video.

The poll of some 700 children aged 12 and 13 was part of a UK-wide survey of 2,000 11 to 17-year-olds carried out by One Poll in February.

Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen, who has a home in the New Forest, said: “It is shocking that children as young as 11 are contacting ChildLine with concerns about porn. Young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships. We know they are frequently stumbling across porn, often unintentionally, and they are telling us very clearly that this is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them. Girls in particular have said they feel like they have to look and behave like porn stars to be liked by boys.

“We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent as soon as we feel they are ready, to ensure that they gain a proper perspective between real life relationships and the fantasy world of porn.”

The ChildLine campaign – the Fight Against Porn Zombies or FAPZ – was developed with young people. It uses animations to look at the implications of over-exposure to porn on both boys and girls, with links to information and advice to help young people understand the harm of replicating pornographic content in real life, and avoid risky situations.

Peter Liver, Director of ChildLine, said from young people contacting ChildLine and the poll results they knew that watching porn was “part of everyday life.”

He added: “However, even more worryingly, they also tell ChildLine that watching porn is making them feel depressed, giving them body image issues, making them feel pressured to engage in sexual acts they’re not ready for and some even feel they are addicted to porn.”

See www.childline.org.uk/fapz or contact ChildLine on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk