I think a lot of people misunderstand what the actual definition of pedophilia is.

Before I begin this thread, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am NOT condoning pedophilia at all. I am merely attempting to clear up a misconception surrounding it. Please understand that.

To start off, pedophilia, by definition, is the sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Prepubescent, by definition, means a child who has not yet reached puberty. A child under 13 is generally considered prepubescent.

When a child turns 13, they become a teenager. Usually by that point, they reach puberty, and thus are no longer considered prepubescent.

I also feel like people are misusing the term “minor.” Yes, a child is a minor, but a minor is not ALWAYS a child. Child and teenager are two different terms. As I mentioned previously, a child is generally someone under the age of 13.

Now, on to the main point of this thread. I’ve seen people have issues with pairings involving a teenager and an adult, claiming it’s pedophilia.

In reality, however, it is actually not. In order for someone to be diagnosed with true pedophilia, the person MUST have a sexual preference for children more than 5 years younger than them (and be over 16 years of age themselves), AND the child be younger than prepubescent age.

The person must also ACT on feelings of arousal around prepubescent children in order to be considered a pedophile by psychological and law standards. All of those aspects MUST be met for someone to be diagnosed with true pedophilia.

So, by definition, for example, a 15 year-old dating, say a 20 year-old, is not pedophilia. If a 20 year-old and a 15 year-old love each other and there is no abuse or grooming of any sort involved, there are no legal charges that could come of this relationship.