AIBU to say it's Abuse not Porn (may be triggering)

[RenameTheShame]

AIBU to think that if it involves children, it is not pornographic images, it is images of child sex abuse and the media should name it as such.

Are there any existing resources that promote the use of the term child sex abuse and not child pornography and why this matters that can be linked to when the term is used in the media

Are there any template letters that can be used to contact media using the term?

Are there any campaigns already addressing this?

And if not, anyone interested in starting something?

(I have name changed for this)

Apologies if triggering, I am just getting increasingly cross about the way this is reported.

Both terms have exceptionally grave and negative connotations.

Child pornography implies child sex abuse. Child sex abuse does not imply pornography. As in... not all child sex abuse is filmed and photographed.

Child pornography also implies an intent to distribute. Child sex abuse does not. I would argue that, while both are equally depraved, disgusting and serious, child pronography has more negative connotations associated with it.

Does pornography not have an implied element of acceptability though?

'Child porn' absolutely does imply it's just another genre of porn. It's a hideous term.

Some campaigners are suggesting the term ‘child sexual abuse images’ would be the best term to use. It’s clear and to the point.

Completely agree with you, Rename. As long as we as a society talk about "food/shoe/house porn" or the like, using the term "child pornography" should be utterly unacceptable and the correct "child sexual abuse or rape, used instead.

The Samaritans campaign about the reporting of suicide was very successful in changing how that language is used - maybe a useful starting reference?

There was an article about that scumbag Epstein and his cronies. And it pointed out that 'under-age women' is used instead of 'girls' or 'children'. 'Non-consensual sex' instead of 'rape' or 'sexual assault' and 'abuse'.

There is a minimisation of how child abuse is spoken about. 'Child porn, child prostitution, sex-trafficking and non-consensual sex with under-age women' all serve to sanitize what are respectively 'images of child sexual abuse, rape of children for money, transporting women and girls to be raped and raping children.

The language around this should be precise and it should be damning.

Thanks

"Mother* yes I have the Samaritans reporting guidelines and the Paralympic ones as examples on my draft list of why how things are reported matters

MrsTP an excellent examples also. It really makes a difference how things are said to how they are viewed doesn't it

(and potentially Pronouns are Rhohypnol)

Links to above:

Samaritans on suicides www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/media-guidelines/

Paralympics storage.googleapis.com/paralympics-footer/ParalympicsGB_Guide_to_Reporting_on_Paralympic_Sport.pdf

Thank you also to people who are voting but not necessarily commenting. It would be really helpful though to me if anyone who thinks I am being unreasonable could either post a comment or DM me if that's okay as if there isn't already something campaign-wise I am considering taking this issue on and it would be helpful to think more about that first (I frequently am unreasonable!)

I think 'child porn' is a perfectly appropriate term.

Everyone knows exactly what it is with zero ambiguity

'Images' would mean pictures to me. More of a grey term where i couldnt be sure what was meant

I think youd be campaigning to make it less clear

Bear in mind @RenameTheShame that this is l'heure de trolle. And that the fat-fingered me have been known to vote wrong on occasion. Don't expect 100% votes on anything.

'Images' would mean pictures to me.

But it would be 'images of child sexual abuse' not just 'images'.

Mrs TP good point about the lateness of the hour

araiwa it isn't replacing 'child porn' with 'images' which is definitely less clear.

It is accurately describing 'images of child porn' as images of child sex abuse' I am referring to. Sorry if that wasn't clear

I just dont see the point

Child porn has a very particular meaning. Everyone knows what it is. What benefit is there to anyone to changing it.

Underage women is obviously awful as a term

I don’t understand how the term “pornography” implies consent or acceptability. Have you actually looked the word up in a dictionary?

Does pornography not have an implied element of acceptability though

Not to me, it doesn't. And definitely not if preceded by the word "child".

I complete agree and have had the same thought so many times. "Images of child sexual abuse" is descriptive and should be used instead. The words child and porn should never be put together and if I were a newscaster I world refuse to say it. It makes me shudder every time I hear it. Imagine if filming someone getting raped was termed "rape porn". 🤮 The word "porn" suggests that the images are somehow "provocative". It's disgusting.

What bothers me about this change is terminology is the potential for the term to be misunderstood by minors.

I absolutely agree with you. I have written to the BBC a couple of times about this as I find the term offensive. In my view it minimises the abuse.

The Guardian used the same term last week when running a story about the arrest of R Kelly.

In criminal justice, the term is Indecent Images of Children not child porn.

What difference will it make?

Just seems a pointless waste of time

It will make a massive difference in public perception, that’s the point.

At a time when porn is generally acceptable to most; when as a poster above said, we refer to many things such as houses, shoes, etc as “porn” the term ‘child pornography’ seeks to desensitise people to what it actually is: filmed images of child sex abuse and child rape. The use of child porn equates such with adults who (for the intents of this post) most people would agree can choose consent to participate and be paid to do so.

Why would anyone be against the naming of abuse, as abuse and not something a victim chooses to do? Especially a child?

Will it?

Everyone knows what child porn is and its probably seen as the worst crime someone could commit. Its a totally reviled thing

Completely agree, OP. The media needs to use a different term.