Toddlers access explicit online content, survey finds

Children as young as two have accessed explicit content online, according to a survey published yesterday.

The research, carried out by independent comparison service uSwitch.com, revealed that 3m UK families had discovered that their children had viewed violent, explicit, or pornographic material on the internet, with the youngest age quoted being two years old.

Marie-Louise Abretti, a telecommunications expert at uSwitch.com, said: “Our research reveals a staggering number of children exposed to inappropriate content online at a worryingly young age. Nowadays, children not only have access to home computers, but also portable devices such as tablets and smartphones, so it’s far harder for parents to keep tabs on what their children are getting up to.”