Survey shows porn habits start early

You might want to peek over your child's shoulder and see what they're really watching online.

University of Sydney researchers have found nearly half of the 800 people they've surveyed starting watching porn between the age of 11 and 13.

One of the researchers, Dr Gomathi Sitharthan, says they've been startled to find 43 percent of those surveyed starting watching porn between the ages of 11 and 13.

"The reason we think is because the porn is readily available, you don't have to actually go into a shop and buy the material."

Ms Sitharthan says technology has played a major role.

"You can be sitting anywhere at any time, and watching porn. Parents may not be aware what their children are actually doing, they might think they are doing their homework on the computer."

Ms Sitharthan says more than half of those surveyed are married or in de-facto relationships, and 85 percent are male.

She says 30 percent of those surveyed acknowledge their work performance suffers because of their porn viewing.

Photo: NZ Herald