Pornography 'in children’s pockets and in their bedrooms' and 'finding them when they go online'

Women's Aid chief executive Sarah Benson said pornography was a multi-billion euro 'broadly unregulated industry' which 'is on every smartphone, is on every social media app'. Picture: Gary Ashe/Sharpix

Pornography is “in children’s pockets and in their bedrooms”, and is presenting itself to children online without them having to go looking for it, according to the chief executive of Women’s Aid.

Sarah Benson was speaking ahead of a two-day strategic convention on the issue, beginning on Thursday in Athlone. The event, organised by Women’s Aid and the Community Foundation of Ireland, will examine how society can reduce and prevent the harms of pornography “on gender equality, healthy sexual development and online safety”.