Understanding the codes of child pornography on social media
- Admin
- Jan 4
- 5 min read
Deciphering the invisible to better protect
On social media, everything seems fast-paced, everything seems lighthearted. Photos, videos, emojis, short phrases, sometimes clumsy, sometimes absurd. For most users, these signs are harmless. They're part of the game, humor, provocation, or trend. Yet, behind this apparent banality, a much darker reality sometimes lurks. Certain criminal communities, and in particular pedophile networks, have learned to exploit these everyday codes to communicate with each other, recognize one another, recruit, direct, and conceal their activities.
This article, published by the Web Abuse Association Defense (WAAD) , has a clear objective: to raise awareness among the general public, parents, and minors about the existence of these codes, their constant evolution, and the very real dangers they represent. The more these mechanisms are understood, the less effective they become. And the more they are reported, the more they can be dismantled.
Why codes? The logic of concealment
Social media platforms like Instagram , Facebook , and X rely on automated moderation systems. Certain keywords are detected, filtered, and sometimes deleted in seconds. Pedophiles are well aware of this. Over the years, they have therefore developed a parallel grammar: a coded, fluid, and deliberately ambiguous language designed to evade algorithmic detection while remaining understandable to those in the know.
This language is not fixed. As soon as a symbol becomes too visible, too publicized, it is abandoned in favor of another. This fluidity is precisely what makes the struggle complex. But it also makes collective vigilance essential.
From the word “CP” to food metaphors
For a long time, the abbreviation CP , for Child Porn , was widely used. Simple, direct, and effective for those in the know. But precisely because it's explicit, it's now very quickly identified and moderated by platforms. Accounts that openly use it are often deleted almost immediately.
To circumvent this surveillance, pedophile networks have shifted towards more indirect, more insidious forms of exploitation. One of the best known, and most documented, relies on a food metaphor: pizza.
In English, "cheese pizza" means pizza with cheese. The initials of these two words— C and P —correspond exactly to those of "child porn ." From there, a whole imaginary world has been built. The 🍕 emoji, seemingly innocent phrases like "I love pizza," "pizza lover," "cheese only," "pizza time," or even repeated references to cheese become, in certain specific contexts, markers of recognition.
Taken individually, these elements are not illegal. But when they appear insistently in pseudonyms, biographies, comments associated with images of minors, sometimes sexualized without being explicitly illegal, they take on a completely different meaning.
When symbols speak to each other
Pizza is not the only symbol used. Investigations and reports, particularly those from American studies relayed by child protection organizations, have highlighted the existence of other graphic or chromatic signs. Geometric shapes, hearts of certain colors, and specific combinations of symbols can be used to express preferences or intentions, always indirectly.
It is important to emphasize a crucial point: a symbol is never proof in itself . It is not the emoji that is criminal, but its use, the context, the repetition, and the account's environment. Vigilance should never turn into a witch hunt. It must remain rational, informed, and responsible.
The illusion of the “grey zone”
Another frequently observed strategy is to deliberately remain in a legally ambiguous area. Images of clothed minors, suggestive poses without nudity, ambiguous speeches, equivocal comments—everything is done to avoid explicitly crossing the line into criminal law, while attracting an audience that knows exactly what it wants.
This gray area is dangerous because it gradually normalizes the unacceptable. It desensitizes. It creates a form of habituation. And it sometimes paves the way for more serious acts.
Hashtags and self-designation
At certain times, other codes emerged, notably in the form of hashtags. Terms like MAP , for Minor Attracted Person, were used by individuals seeking to normalize their attraction to minors, presenting it as a sexual orientation rather than a crime. Again, these attempts provoked a strong reaction from platforms and authorities, leading to their gradual disappearance… before being replaced by other expressions.
This ongoing game of cat and mouse demonstrates one thing: public knowledge is a weapon . When a code is exposed, explained, and documented, it loses its clandestine value.
The crucial role of reporting
In France, illegal content can be reported via the Pharos platform , which centralizes alerts related to serious digital offenses. Law enforcement agencies regularly remind the public that reporting is not blindly denouncing, but rather contributing to collective protection.
Buying, possessing, distributing, or even viewing child pornography constitutes a serious criminal offense. The penalties are severe. But beyond the repressive aspect, reporting can sometimes help identify victims, remove them from dangerous situations, and dismantle entire networks.
Raising awareness to protect
For parents, understanding these codes means better guiding their children in their use of social media. For teenagers, it means learning to recognize abnormal behavior, not to trivialize certain messages, and to dare to speak up when they feel uneasy. For citizens, it means rejecting indifference.
Pedophiles rely on silence, confusion, and ignorance. Every time a symbol is decoded, every time an account is reported, this anonymity is further eroded.
A collective and evolving vigilance
There is no definitive list, no fixed dictionary of pedophilic codes. And that is precisely why vigilance must be constant. The codes change, but the logic remains the same: to deceive the innocent, to conceal the illegal, to test the limits.
At WAAD, we refuse to give in. Informing, explaining, and raising awareness is not about giving in to fear; it's about empowering users. Protecting minors isn't just a matter for the police or the courts. It's a collective responsibility.
Understanding these mechanisms is already the first step towards neutralizing them.
Legal Annex – Key Information (France)
In France, online child sexual abuse is a serious crime strictly punished by the Penal Code .
👉 The following are illegal and punishable :
the possession , viewing , sharing or distribution of child pornography,
the act of searching for , requesting , or purchasing this type of content,
the use of the Internet or social networks for these acts.
⛔ There is no legal “grey area” : sexualized images of minors, even without explicit nudity, can constitute an offense depending on the context and intent.
⚖️ The penalties incurred can be up to 7 years in prison and a €100,000 fine , more in the event of aggravating circumstances.
📣 Every citizen can and should report suspicious content or behavior via the official Pharos platform .
➡️ Reporting is not accusing : it allows the competent authorities to protect victims and to act.