The implementation of age verification (AV) technology has long been waiting in the wings but finally came into effect 25th July 2025. In this third instalment of our blog series – Beyond bans: rethinking phone-free childhoods and age verification through safe uncertainty, we unpack the current debate and concerns around the implementation of AV and what it means for young people, their rights and safety.
In this extended piece, we explore how the recommendations position porn education, and contrast this with a broader, more comprehensive Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) approach. We consider alternative ways to engage young people in meaningful conversations about sexuality, intimacy and digital literacy, drawing on our experience of delivering a porn literacy pilot programme, which led to our Reimagining RSE initiative and the underpinning Safe Uncertainty framework, to suggest practical steps for educators, youth practitioners and policymakers.
Last Thursday, 27th February 2025, the UK government published their independent review into pornography. This is widely seen as necessary to address growing concerns about online content. Yet, despite its strengths, the report ultimately falls into familiar patterns— reinforcing simplistic narratives that fail to account for the complexities of both adults’ and young people’s engagements with sexual content.
Dr. Emily Setty discusses sexting, consent, and how young people navigate love and intimacy in the digital age. Learn about risks, slut-shaming, and more.
With pornography only a few clicks away for anyone who wants to access it (and even for those who don’t), we must address the issues head-on, which means teaching young people to critically engage with the world around them. Jonny Hunt offers his reflections and advice.