See also: MAP Union's Glossary & FAQ

MAP

‘MAP’ stands for ‘Minor-Attracted Person’. It means exactly what it sounds like; a person attracted to minors. It is not simply a replacement term for ‘pedophile’, which has a narrow definition in scientific usage. It was popularized by B4U-ACT, who sought a term that would be as inclusive, accurate, and devoid of stigma as possible. The ‘MAP’ label has been adopted as an identity by many, and has seen usage in numerous research papers in recent years.

AAM

An AAM is an adult-attracted minor. I personally find the term somewhat odd, as most adolescents are attracted to adults to an extent. Many people who describe themselves as AAMs online are likely to be role-playing MAPs or vigilantes posing as minors.

AMSC

‘AMSC’ refers to Adult-Minor Sexual Contact. The term was endorsed and popularized by MAP Union in 2024, with the intention of avoiding the incredibly loaded expression ‘CSA’. It’s important to understand that using the term ‘AMSC’ does not require the moral support of any of the behaviors its broad spectrum encompasses. Rather, the term offers commentators and researchers the option of discussing the phenomenon in a matter-of-fact way.

PIM / CIM

The expressions ‘Prohibited Images of Minors’, or ‘Criminalized Images of Minors’, describe content much more accurately than the extreme term ‘CSAM’. Most people arrested for ‘CSAM’ offenses have viewed little more than children or teens posing in swimwear, AI generations, or even cartoons, not images of actual children being abused. Referring to the legal status of the content, rather than the ridiculous pretense of it necessarily depicting abuse, is much more objective.

BL / GL

BL refers to boylove, or a boylover. GL refers to girllove, or a girllover. These are sexual orientations, and there is no implication that any people described as such are acting on their feelings.

YF / AF

A YF is a MAP’s young friend. This term is very widely used to refer to relationships in which sexual activity does not take place. An AF is the older friend, a MAP.

Pro-choice / anti-contact

The exact definition of these expressions is somewhat contentious.

Broadly speaking, a pro-choice MAP believes that consensual AMSC is not always inherently harmful, and that such actions could be acceptable in a society that did not problematize them. This is a strictly philosophical stance; many pro-choice MAPs refrain from sexual activity with those under the age of consent due to the sociolegal consequences, which include the risk of secondary harm to the young person.

Anti-contact MAPs are more likely to argue that sexual contact with minors is always inherently wrong. They may or may not be opposed to the private viewing of criminalized images of minors.