Ore Oduba warns of 'public health crisis' from child pornography access

Ore Oduba has issued a stark warning that pornography is educating children without appropriate intervention, labelling its impact on young people a 'public health crisis'. The former Strictly Come Dancing winner, 40, shared his personal experience of a 30-year struggle with porn addiction, which he stated began when he was just nine years old.

The Need for Parental Conversation

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Oduba emphasised the necessity of parents discussing pornography with their children. He argued that avoiding the topic does not protect young people, stating, "If we don’t intervene, pornography will educate our children for us." He added that children now have extensive access, and it has become a form of communication among them. Informing them about the potential harms of pornography is essential for them to make better choices regarding their relationships as they mature.

Oduba referenced a report from the Children's Commissioner, which found that 80% of children have accessed pornography on social media platforms. Of these, 60% did so accidentally. He questioned the societal acceptance of these figures and their correlation with young people's perceptions of sex and relationships, as well as potential links to sexual assault.

Working with Naked Truth Project

Currently, Oduba is collaborating with the Naked Truth Project, an organisation dedicated to educating individuals about the detrimental effects of pornography and offering recovery and support programmes. He highlighted that even years after the charity's founding, discussions about pornography remain a taboo subject for many.

Reflecting on his own journey, Oduba expressed regret for not speaking about his addiction to his family sooner. He noted the significant increase in access to pornography since his childhood, with smartphones and broadband now commonplace, unlike 30 years ago. He described how the material he encountered as a child shaped his early understanding of sex and relationships, forming a 'sexual script' and 'socio-sexual mapping'.

Oduba stated that the current landscape of pornography consumption has drastically changed, with material 'flooding children’s timelines' and potentially affecting how individuals interact with themselves and others. He concluded that there is a significant mental and sexual health cost for young people and the wider community.