The NSW Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the impacts of pornography on young people. 

The inquiry will scrutinise the effects of violent and misogynistic pornographic content on the mental, emotional, and physical health of children, teenagers, and young adults.

Attorney General Michael Daley has tasked a parliamentary committee with the investigation. 

“A generation of young men are growing up with unprecedented access to the online world, and this includes early and easy access to pornography, with harmful depictions of the treatment of women,” Mr Daley said. 

He said the state needs to understand the full impacts of harmful online pornography on young people’s development and behaviour.

Stats suggest that 75 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds have encountered online pornography, with nearly one third of them exposed to it before the age of 13.

The inquiry will also address the production and dissemination of deepfake or AI-generated content. 

NSW Women's Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin expressed concern over the increasing exposure of children to “extreme forms of pornography”, which often contain harmful messages that normalise violence against women. 

“This exposure comes at a crucial time in children's lives when they are developing attitudes about gender roles, sex, and relationships,” Dr Tonkin said. 

She stressed the urgent need to improve understanding of how such exposure influences attitudes and behaviours, particularly among boys and young men.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, highlighted the broader societal implications. 

“We must address the scourge of domestic violence and sexual assault from every angle, and importantly, that includes the normalisation of misogyny and violence online,” Ms Harrison said. 

She pointed out the ease with which young people access pornographic content as a critical issue, underlining the importance of the inquiry in continuing this crucial conversation.

The committee will explore the impacts of pornography on minority groups, as well as examine how pornography is disseminated. 

Additionally, the inquiry will evaluate possible improvements in support systems for parents and carers in educating children about the risks and realities of pornography.