Parents fear that 'toxic' music videos mean their children aspire to having casual sex

Eight out of ten children are repeating sexualised lyrics and copying provocative dance moves, according to a Netmums survey

Miley Cyrus in the video for her new single 'Wrecking Ball' (@MileyCyrus )

Music videos have become a "toxic" mixture of casual sex and violence and parents believe today's pop stars have gone too far, according to the founder of a parenting website.

Siobhan Freegard, of Netmums, said parents are sick of their children being exposed to "lewd" viewing prior to the 9pm watershed.

According to the website's survey of 1,500 people, some 82 per cent of children are repeating sexualised lyrics or copying provocative dance moves without knowing their meaning.

But some parents claimed their children have become all too aware of the meaning of the songs after being bombarded by sexual references. Some children aged five or younger know the context of the song lyrics they're singing.

Among the music videos that have come under criticism recently are Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball", which sees the singer strip nude and writhe about, and Rihanna's "Pour It Up", which features "twerking" and pole dancing.

In the survey, three quarters of parents said pop acts were teaching girls they would be "judged on their looks, not their achievements or personality", while half of parents with sons said their boys were getting the message that women were "too sexually available" and should have "porn-star-style" bodies.

Freegard said: "Modern parents aren't prudes - they know sex sells. But there's a strong feeling that things have gone too far now. It's toxic to tell young kids casual sex and violence are something to aspire to."

Recently, Annie Lennox said there should be a ratings system for pop videos after becoming concerned by the "dark" and "pornographic" material in clips by some of today's most popular artists.