A mum who heard her daughter of 13 discussing how to make a sex tape to get famous has issued a warning to other parents.
The worried mum, of Bennetts End, Hemel Hempstead, told the HeraldExpress her teen daughter and her best friend had downloaded and read a Kindle e-book called ‘It’s All About the Sex Face: A Guide to Becoming a Celebrity’ and were overheard talking about making and leaking a sex tape.
The parent, who does not wish to be identified, said: “It really disturbed me. My daughter buys celebrity magazines every week which is what young girls want to do, but I think it is shocking when it gets to the point that they think making a sex tape is the way to become famous.
“I went on Netmums and other forums to ask about it, but no-one had heard of it. They all said at least they could look out for it now and warn other parents.
“I think some books should definitely carry an age restriction or a warning – a corner shop wouldn’t sell a top-shelf magazine to a child yet they can get books like that and Fifty Shades of Grey on Kindle and even in the supermarket.”
The mum says she does not believe the girls would ever act on the shameless tips in the book – which currently costs only £1.02 – but spoke to them about it and asked them to delete it.
Research from online parenting site Netmums shows over half of children have accidentally accessed inappropriate content online, but one in 11 look for it deliberately. The study also showed that eight per cent have been sent sexual messages and sex texts while three per cent have posted inappropriate images and videos of themselves.
Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: “The news that 13 year olds are plotting to make sex tapes will strike fear into every parent’s heart – but it is a sign of the sickening culture children are being immersed in. It’s horrific that a child this young should feel pressured to make a sordid sex tape, but many kids see it as normal and even cool. They look up to celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Katie Price and Tulisa and see how they’ve launched careers worth millions from it.
“But sex tapes of children are child abuse images and anyone making or viewing these is breaking the law. And once the image is online, it is very hard to take down and may well haunt the child right through later life.”
Netmums advises any parent who finds their child in this situation to have a frank and honest conversation with them and to contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.