\ Garrido stressed that this is a leading study in Spain thanks to the participation of more than 6,000 people.

\ 90.5% of young people aged between 13 and 18 surveyed said they had consumed pornography in recent years.

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The study on pornography and adolescence in the Balearic Islands

The Regional Ministry of the Presidency, Public Function and Equality, through the Balearic Women’s Institute, presented the results of the Study on pornography in the Balearic Islands: access and impact on adolescents, applicable international and national law, and technological solutions for control and blocking, this Friday at Ca n’Oleo in Palma.

The councillor for the Presidency, Public Function and Equality, Mercedes Garrido, explained that “this is a leading study in Spain, with the participation of more than 6,000 people, including students and families”. Specifically, the study was carried out on 3,629 pupils aged between 13 and 18 and 2,592 families. Seventy-six educational centres from all over the Balearic Islands also collaborated. He stressed that “these results will set the line to be followed by all public administrations”.

The study was commissioned by the University-Entrepreneurship Foundation of the Balearic Islands (FUEIB), in which some thirty experts from all over Spain also took part. According to the Director of IBDONA, Maria Duran, “we wanted the study to take a broad look at the reality of all the islands, a more legal part with viable solutions, and also a practical section on possible technological tools to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content”.

The director of the study and professor of International Law at the UIB, Valentina Milano, stated that “the study has shown us a very worrying situation because families are not aware of the consumption of pornography by their children and the consequences it can have for their relationships”.

The study shows that 53.4% of young people resolve their doubts with their friends, 38.2% with their parents, and 32.5% look for them on the Internet. Thus, the Internet has become one of the main sources of information and that is why 90.5% of young people admit that they have looked at pornography in recent years (91.7% of men and 89.3% of women). In addition, 93.3% had their first contact with pornography before the age of 14. As for the age at which regular viewing of pornography started, the median age for boys is 12.7 years and 12.98 years for girls.

Regarding the type of pornography they usually watch, 76.25% of the sample answered that they mainly watch hardcore or crude pornography and 19.6% said that they watch content that does not show violent sexual acts. In terms of gender, 66.9% of girls consume hardcore, compared to 84.7% of boys.

Regarding the frequency of consumption, 90% admit that they regularly visit pornographic websites. By sex, only 2.6% of women consume pornography on a daily basis, compared to 34.3% of men.

Regarding the positive effects of this type of videos, 54.5% say that they do it to satisfy their curiosity, 39.8% to learn more about sex, and 36.1% as a stimulant for masturbation. On the negative effects, 24% of the young people surveyed consider that it affects relationships and 17.3% recognise that they spend too much time on this type of content.

Lluís Ballester, head of the diagnostic part of the study and doctor in Sociology at the UIB, stressed that “the problem with watching pornography is that there is a certain process of habituation among young people, and they are increasingly looking for stronger content such as hardcore”.

95.1% of the sample indicated the need to talk about sexuality with their sons and daughters, although 41.9% were ambiguous about whether they had doubts about how to talk about sexuality with their children. And 63.6% of parents believe that children should be prevented from watching pornographic material.

The study also includes a section of recommendations made by the experts, which Garrido summarised as “prevention through sex-affective education in educational and cultural centres, the promotion of legal controls for the protection of minors, creating spaces for consultation and information, and promoting egalitarian relationships and healthy sexuality”.

A compilation of the regional, national, European and international regulatory framework on pornography and its impact on minors has also been compiled. And finally, an analysis of the telematic forms of access to pornographic content, blocking tools and age verification systems in order to address the challenges of the digital space to prevent harassment or grooming of minors, among others.

Follow-up Commission

The authors of the study also presented it this Friday at the Follow-up Commission of the Autonomous Plan for the Fight against Trafficking in Women and Girls for Sexual Exploitation and Prostitution in the Balearic Islands, as well as the recommendations derived from this research.

The Commission is made up of the island councils, the FELIB, different professional associations, the National Police, the Civil Guard and the Red Cross, among other entities and organisations. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Social Affairs and Sports, Fina Santiago, and the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Martí March.