Is watching hentai, lolicon, or shotacon a problem?
Yes, watching this type of content can be a problem for some people, and some of it is illegal. It’s good to ask questions like this and learn as much as you can so you can make safe decisions about what to watch. But there are a few things to consider, so stick with us on this long answer!
Problematic reasons for viewing hentai, lolicon, or shotacon:
Normalizing Harmful Acts
A concern about this type of content is that it can make it easier to think that sex with and between kids is ok – but it’s not. In general, a lot of this content shows young people, children and teens, in sexual clothing and situations. This can be confusing to younger children, and also to some teens and adults who may be working on figuring out their own sexual attractions and boundaries.
So even though hentai, lolicon, and shotacon aren’t real, they can make thinking about children in sexual situations seem normal and safe - and this is problematic. This can potentially give people who look at this content concerning messages about what is normal, healthy, and legal. And while looking at this content doesn’t mean that you or anyone else is sexually attracted to children or will become so, it does mean that it becomes harder to identify what is indeed safe and healthy, and what is harmful - and this means that there is more of a risk for people to act in a way that is illegal and/or harmful regarding their sexual behaviors around and with children.
To learn more about identifying if what you are watching is problem for you please read our Blog, “How can I look at fictional sexual content safely?”.
It’s Illegal in Some Places
Sexually explicit images, videos, and other content of people under age 18 is illegal in the United States. This content is called child sexual abuse material (CSAM, formerly called child pornography), because it is evidence of sexual abuse. Some fictional sexual content may be considered CSAM.
The laws around watching specifically fictional sexual content can be pretty confusing. In general, in the U.S., fictional content that includes images of child sexual abuse or sexualizes children is federally illegal. That means, in the U.S., hentai lolicon and shotacon can be considered illegal. In some other countries, it is illegal to have any sexualized cartoon images of anyone under the age of 18. And the laws will keep changing over time as more is learned about the impact and risks of this type of content.
So, depending on where you live, watching hentai, lolicon, or shotacon, having it saved on your devices, or sharing it on the internet could be considered illegal. For that reason, it’s best to avoid illegal content – even if it’s fictional.
Concerning Behaviors
Just like with any behavior or interest, it is important to pay attention to any red flags that could mean that watching this is getting in the way of other areas of your life - like hanging with friends, doing something you normally like doing, your schoolwork or job.
A good way to determine whether anything – especially sexual content – is a problem is to check in with yourself. Ask yourself: are you feeling uncomfortable or anxious because of what you are looking at or how much it has become a part of your life? Also pay attention to whether it is making you think about or look for images and content that is especially aggressive, sexualized, or harmful in some other way. Some warning signs to pay attention to include:
A growing interest in younger kids as sexual beings
You’re ignoring real friendships and activities, and avoiding friends and family because of what you are watching
When you are in a public or social situation (ex. at school, work, or any other activity), you can’t wait to get home again to watch this type of content
You are secretive about what and how much you watch
You have repeated fantasies and thoughts about having sex with kids
The characters in these cartoons seem more and more real to you
Bottom Line
With all of that said, there are many reasons why people seek out this kind of content, and there can be a lot of misinformation that can create confusion about what is ok and safe, and what is not safe and even harmful, subsequently creating feelings of guilt and shame. We spoke about this in our blog “I feel disgusting after watching cartoon images of children having sex.”
If you have any questions about what you’re viewing, you’re not alone - get answers and help. Text our helpline