AO3 (Archive of our own) is a popular media sharing site, specifically for user made fanficfion. Fanficfion is a story about a series written by a fan of said series. It is a fan’s fiction. Many fans use fanfics as a way to ship (romantically or sexually pair) two characters together. It is so popular, on AO3 there is a whole search section for relationships. 

Child pornography. “Child pornography is pornography that unlawfully exploits children for sexual stimulation. It may be produced with the direct involvement or sexual assault of a child or it may be simulated child pornography.”

”Any written material, visual representation or audio recording that advocates or counsels sexual activity with a person under the age of eighteen years that would be an offence under this Act;” - 163.1 (1) Canadian justice website

”Additionally, the age of consent for sexual activity in a given state is irrelevant; any depiction of a minor under 18 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct is illegal.” - 18 U.S.C. § 2256- the United States department of justice

And yet, AO3 allows written descriptions of not only child pornography, but pedophilic child pornography.

“This story is written fiction. It does not contain images of real children. Therefore, it is not child pornography, and we will neither remove it from the Archive nor take any action against the creator.” - email I received after reporting a graphic description of 12 x 26

In their eyes, condoning sex with a 12 year old is just fine. This is a problem. There are numerous other fics out there that are far worse. An uncle having sex with his newborn niece. Newborn. A pair of six year old brothers having sex. And yet, because none of it is real, they allow this to continue. 

Fiction affects reality, and the blatant ignorance to think it does not should not be a stance a fiction reading and writing website should take. People adopt slang from fiction, they sort themselves into hog warts houses, they become cops to be like their childhood superheros. And it goes on. Not always in a good way.

Clearly this issue will not be solved in one go. So, today, I ask you to consider; ban all pornography involving people under the age of 15. By the age of 15 you’re likely having sex anyways, and while it’s a little weird it is better than nothing at all. AO3 needs to recognize this issue and update their terms of service. 

The difference between this and say, a written description of murder, is intent. Murder is never written in a good light. It is always written as a crime and if it is in a “good light” it’s through the eyes of a person who is mentally unwell. This is not the case with any of these stories. They depict child pornography as if it’s perfectly fine. The more normalized this gets in society, the more children are in danger. The more impressionable people will read these and grow to think it’s not so bad. The more 50 year old men who will touch themselves to it, imagining a family member or somehow something worse. 
This is not okay. AO3 needs to do more than tell us to “just filter it out”. Step up and fix this problem.