Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To demand the media stop using the phrases child porn ams child erotica?

32 replies

Tableauz · 02/02/2018 00:58

Twice this week I have read these terms used to describe images and videos of horrific child sexual abuse.

I particularly found the use of these terms in the reporting of Mark Sallings's death upsetting as it appeared to minimise his crimes and focus on his "tragic" death.

I feel very strongly that these terms need to be banned as they misrepresent the seriousness of child sexual abuse.

OP posts:
RestingButchFace · 02/02/2018 01:01

YANBU, I hate the term child porn and have complained several times to media outlets about their terms. I am yet to come across the second term in your title (cannot bring myself to even type it) There was a petition against the term child porn at one point. Fucking disgraceful reporting on such heinous crimes.

FrancisUnderwood · 02/02/2018 01:03

I haven't heard many outlets or individuals refer to MS's death as a 'tragedy'. A few hardcore, naive Glee fans on twitter, maybe...

I think this terminology will change actually. sooner rather than later, but i'm not sure how you'd go about 'demanding' it.

nextDayDelivery · 02/02/2018 01:05

I've never heard 'child erotica'.

I think that 'child porn' as a term is fine. Does anyone think that it's okay or acceptable?

I'd guess that if you ask 1,000s of people,the response would be utter condemnation.

YABU and seem to be focusing on the wrong issue.

bluetongue · 02/02/2018 01:05

It’s now referred to as child exploitation material in Australia. Think it’s a good description for what it really is.

FrancisUnderwood · 02/02/2018 01:07

I'm not sure exploitation is strong enough (for me). Child abuse material, maybe.

Greensleeves · 02/02/2018 01:09

I thought the accepted term for pictures was "images of child abuse", so I suppose "footage of child abuse" would be adequate.

The other term is just disgusting and I can't believe anybody would seriously use it.

AuroraBora · 02/02/2018 01:21

Fuck. I didn’t realised he’d died. 50,000 images on his computer. That’s horrific Sad

OP YANBU.

Birdsgottafly · 02/02/2018 01:25

YANBU.

Language is very important and changes the way we think about things.

Terfinater · 02/02/2018 01:55

The phrase child porn makes me feel sick. Children cannot and do not engage in pornography. Child abuse images is an appropriate term. Anything less than that is minimizing and I agree with Birds, language is important.

Royalfuckup · 02/02/2018 02:04

I completely agree that it should be referred to as child abuse material.

brownelephant · 02/02/2018 02:05

yanbu

araiwa · 02/02/2018 02:48

examples of the term "child erotica" being used? ive never heard the term used by anyone ever

i have no problem with the term "child porn" - it accurately conveys the nature of the images/ video and everyone knows the horror of what it is

RestingButchFace · 02/02/2018 02:53

i have no problem with the term "child porn" - it accurately conveys the nature of the images/ video and everyone knows the horror of what it is The termost porn implies that it is part of an industry in which people are employed. I have no problem whatsoever with the adult pornography industry and if grown men or womenot choose it as a career. But do not dress up child abuse as pornography. It isn't.

RestingButchFace · 02/02/2018 02:54

Not termost I meant child porn.

WombOfOnesOwn · 02/02/2018 02:59

Child porn is abuse of children.

Regular porn is abuse of women.

Pornography is inherently abusive and exploitative. There's no reason we should disguise that these are two parts of a disgusting and exploitative whole.

Birdsgottafly · 02/02/2018 02:59

"examples of the term "child erotica" being used?"

In the US it is a separate legal category to Child Abuse Images.

Calling it Child Porn doesn't convey what it is, it doesn't get the immediate message across that their is a Victim, they are abuse images, so why not call them that? It's about separating this crime from the norms and values of society, as far away as possible. Globally, this is important.

Child erotica is starting to be called child exploitation images

Shadow666 · 02/02/2018 03:00

Pornography is the depiction of nudity or erotic behavior with the intent to cause sexual excitement.

That's what it is.

RestingButchFace · 02/02/2018 03:05

Shadow I have learnt something. I need never knew that was the definition.

DunedinGirl · 02/02/2018 03:07

YADNBU. 'Porn' implies consent and a standardised, legimitimate industry, at least in some people's minds

bluelion23 · 02/02/2018 03:08

'i have no problem with the term "child porn" - it accurately conveys the nature of the images/ video and everyone knows the horror of what it is' as explained in the final guardian link i posted it does not simply put pornagraphy defined as 'sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.' or
'the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement
2 : material (such as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement'
basically porn has to be sexual and pictures of child abuse are not they are crimes and unless you are a paedophile will not cause sexual excitement

bluelion23 · 02/02/2018 03:15

'Pornography is the depiction of nudity or erotic behavior with the intent to cause sexual excitement.' i dont want to quibble however i dont think in my understanding of porn there has to be intent and that would mean images of child sex abuse could be called porn as the creator would have that intent. also if you think of regular adult porn and there would not have to be intent in every pornographic video eg homemade videos that end up on the web or cctv that happens to catch a sexual act

RestingButchFace · 02/02/2018 03:22

Dunedingirl that was my understanding til this line Pornography is the depiction of nudity or erotic behavior with the intent to cause sexual excitement. To me the term porn implicitly implies some sort of compliance. I don't care what a dictionary says.

AnUtterIdiot · 02/02/2018 03:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grimbles · 02/02/2018 07:12

Child or underage prostitute/prostitution should be call what it is, as said above, children cannot be prostitutes.