A new report by the Chief Censor reveals two-thirds of 14-17 year olds have been exposed to porn, with some admitting to seeing it before the age of 12.
Crucially, 72 percent of those who viewed porn recently said they saw things that made them uncomfortable.
Sixty-nine percent said they have seen violence or aggression. Seventy-two percent had seen non-consensual activity.
Chief Censor David Shanks said it puts beyond doubt that porn is now a fact of life for young New Zealanders.
Seventy-one percent of young New Zealanders believe access to online porn by children and teenagers should be restricted in some way. David Shanks described that figure as "astonishing".
- New play sees teenagers tackle harm caused by porn
- Is free pornography destroying our brains?
- Bestiality, snuff porn warping our boys' minds - experts
Forty-two percent of regular viewers said they'd like to spend less time looking at porn, but they find this hard to do.
Mr Shanks said a welcome surprise was the insights young people had about pornography and the damage that what they're viewing could be doing.
The Office of Film and Literature Classification surveyed more than 2000 teens aged 14-17 to research how and why they're viewing pornography.
Teenagers told researchers they sometimes see violent, aggressive, misogynistic and coercive behaviour.
Most teenagers:
- Were not seeking pornograhy when they were first exposed to it
- Recognise porn is influencing sexual behaviour.
- Worry about false expectations porn raises about sex and relationships
- Often see things that trouble them.
The report concludes that young people are likely to see porn regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexuality. But it says the stats are undeniable: it's more of a boys' thing.
Respondents said porn is simply too easy to access and agree some form of restriction is a good idea.
Mr Shanks said pornography is not what a healthy relationship should look like.
Teenagers worry about false expectations pornography places on them.
But he said they didn't invent this, they inherited it.
Teens often see porn by accident and teenagers overwhelmingly think it's a bad idea for children to have access to porn.
Mr Shanks said the relevant piece of legislation that regulates the industry dates back to 1993, 'which is practically pre-internet'.
Young people expect better controls and regulation in this space. But he said barriers will only provide one part of the solution to the issues.
Mr Shanks said young people often don't have the tools to deal with what they see and be resilient, but that education provides the biggest opportunity to make a difference, and an opportunity to provide a counter-narrative to pornography.
He said sex education should be renamed "Healthy and Respectful Relationships".
Minister for Children Tracey Martin said this issue is about children, it's not about pornography, and that sex education had been designed poorly, "from the top down, rather than from the bottom up".
"The porn industry has got away on us," she said.
She urges parents to raise the topic with their children, in a way that encourages honesty.
Ms Martin said the research has provided evidence and the voice of the young people themselves.
"We need to keep the focus on them, not on what adults want to do with their spare time," she said.
Newshub.
