Hello Reader,

This week I’m bringing you a tip from a fellow reader who has four kids. She described horrific content she found on a fandom platform.

First, a few definitions

Fandoms are communities of people who are enthusiastic about a shared interest—such as a book series, movie, TV show, game, celebrity, or hobby. Members like to discuss it, create content about it, and connect with others who enjoy it too.

AO3 (Archive of Our Own) is a nonprofit fanfiction archive with powerful tagging, filtering, and fandom tools. Wattpad is broader and more social, mixing original fiction and fanfic with algorithms, comments, and monetization features. Both host serialized writing, but AO3 is more fandom-centered.

Now for her disturbing warning for parents (slightly edited for length):

You have a list of ways kids can encounter porn, but there are a few missing: AO3 and Wattpad. These are unregulated places where anyone can publish anything written…My daughter is 16 and has been reading Harry Potter fics on it daily…for probably 3-4 years. I also follow fics [i.e. stories] on a fandom.

I was reading today and was shocked when I found there's a whole category for rape/nonconsent. These are explicit.

I read one and it was describing rape in detail. Then I found another category for CSAM and pedophilia. It describes the thoughts and actions of predators on babies. I couldn't read that, but it's 2 easy clicks for my daughter on the platform she loves for her stories.

I looked and the number of fics in those rape/pedophilia tags were in the 100k amounts and were super high traffic. I'm so sad about this. But I also really enjoy the fandom I read on AO3.

Anyway, I just thought it should be on your list so parents know about it. I didn't know until today and had been supportive of my daughter, but we'll need to have some conversations now that I know what's so easily adjacent.

This is horrific! So much toxic sewage is spewed out daily onto the internet with little to no safeguards for kids.

Our advice: If your kid is into fandoms, it’s probably time to do some investigating like this brave mama. And continue the conversations!

✅ Help your kid develop an INTERNAL Filter

I know it seems like you’re playing whack-a-mole with technology (which you are)!

That's why I always encourage parents to talk to kids from a young age and help them develop a disposition--a preference that has been carefully cultivated through teaching. We can help kids build a disposition to reject pornography and all forms of sexually exploitative content.

And you've already started! By reading our emails and following our social accounts (Instagram and Facebook), you’re getting the facts and staying current.

➡️ Here’s a private link to some more facts you’ll want to know.

Recently I was interviewed for the program American Thought Leaders by Jan Jekielek*, Sr. Editor for The Epoch Times. A few years ago they published a comprehensive article on my work and then invited me to be interviewed–which I was happy to do!

They generously provided a free link to the interview for me to share with friends, family and YOU! (It’s normally behind a paywall, so please don’t put it out there on social media–thank you!)

Jan asked me a few questions I hadn’t received before. But he didn’t stump me!

For example, he said he was the type of kid that would touch the hot stove when he was warned not to. (Do you know a kid like that? I do and we’re related, ha!)

Jan asked my advice about what to do with a child like that–do you warn them about pornography? What if they start searching for it? I had an answer for him–and I think it will be helpful for everyone.

Watch or listen to our interview here and let me know what you think!

With you and for you!

Kristen

P.S. We’ll be adding this warning to the list of our popular article, How Do Kids Find Porn in 2026? 13 Pipelines to Porn Targeting Your Child. If you haven’t read it, check it out!

Another great resource for kids who have been exposed to porn is our 80-page guide My Kid Saw Porn—Now What? You can download it instantly and get our best curated advice.

*Jan Jekielek is pronounced YAHN Ya-kell-ick

Looking for additional resources to discuss the dangers of pornography with your children? Our Good Pictures Bad Pictures books can give you the words, stories, and confidence to begin.