Calls to ban choking in porn gain traction in Australia

Following tragic events, the government faces pressure to outlaw depictions of strangulation in adult content.

Told by Claire Lawson · 30 August 2026

The Australian government is feeling the heat to outlaw depictions of strangulation in pornography, a move inspired by a similar ban in the UK. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has voiced her support, particularly after the tragic death of a 16-year-old girl in Sydney, which is believed to be linked to a choking incident during a sexual act.

Plibersek pointed to alarming statistics from a 2024 study, revealing that 57% of young Australians aged 18 to 35 have experienced strangulation in their sexual encounters. She stated, "There is something wrong with a situation where 60% of young people say they’ve experienced strangulation. This is not sex education. It’s not real life."

In 2025, the UK took measures to make it a criminal offense to possess or publish pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation. Plibersek argues Australia should follow suit to protect young people from harmful narratives propagated by pornography.

The issue has garnered bipartisan support, with NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act swiftly. Sloane highlighted that young people are unknowingly exposed to sexual violence online, remarking, "We cannot wait until another family is living through a tragedy before we take seriously what our children are being taught by pornography."

This concern is compounded by a 2024 study revealing that young boys are served misogynistic content within 23 minutes of downloading social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Plibersek acknowledged the role of social media algorithms in perpetuating these harmful narratives and indicated that the government is considering laws to make these algorithms opt-in only.

Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, supports the call for stricter regulations, stating that 71% of Australians back the proposal. The discussion around this issue is part of a broader strategy to tackle sexual violence and intimate-partner homicide rates, which remain unacceptably high in Australia.