The number of children facing sexual assault charges in Scotland has doubled in the last year prompting critics to call for a crackdown on internet porn.
Campaigners say the new figures from the Crown Office point to a concerning increase in sexual aggression among youngsters.
They stress that easily accessible online pornography, glamorising rape and sexual violence, are to some extent responsible.
Alarming
Statistics reveal that sexual assault cases involving boys rose from 71 to 142 last year while the number of rapes by underage males also went up by 58.
This is more than twice the number for 2010. The figures relating to sexual attacks by girls under the age of 16 have also doubled.
Sandy Brindley, national co-ordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland said: “This does back up that there appears to be an alarming increase in sexual crime by young people, and young men in particular.”
Pornography
She added: “One concern we have had for a long time is about the easy availability of internet pornography – which would previously have been classed as hardcore – which celebrates violence against women, who are being raped and seemingly enjoying it.
“If this is where young men are getting their information it’s nonsensical to think it’s not going to have an impact.”
But Ruth Stark, manager of the Scottish Association of Social Workers commented: “I think it’s a myth that young people are becoming more sexualised.
Exposed
“I would suggest we were equally worried about these things in the 1970s. The difference is we recognise it more now.”
In June the Government announced that parents are to be asked whether internet pornography should be automatically blocked on computers.
Children’s Minister Tim Loughton admitted the Government need to do more to help families control what their kids see online.
He said: “Growing numbers of parents do not feel in control of what their families are exposed to online.”