Is porn illegal?

Porn isn't illegal in the UK, but there are some laws around it.

If you're over 18, watching porn is legal. If you're under 18, you're not supposed to access it, but you're not going to get arrested for watching it. Most young people come across porn at some point, and the law is mostly aimed at the people who make and distribute it, not the people watching it.

If you do watch porn, be aware that it's performance, not reality. Watching a lot of it can affect how you think about sex, bodies, and what's normal. It's also easy to end up down rabbit holes into more extreme or violent stuff without really noticing. If what you're watching is making you uncomfortable or you feel like you need more and more of it, step back.

If anything you've seen online has worried you, there are people you can talk to.

Porn is not illegal in the UK for adults. But you are not supposed to watch it if you are under 18.

If you are under 18 and watch porn, you are not going to get arrested. The law is mainly aimed at the people who make and sell it, not the people watching it.

If you do watch porn, know that it is not real. It is acted and filmed to look dramatic. It does not show what real sex is like.

If anything you have seen online has worried you, talk to someone you trust or call Childline.