Am I a pedophile…?

NSFWSpoilerNeed support/advice

A little while after I turned 18, I became friends online with a 15-year-old. The friendship became emotionally close and affectionate. We used platonic affection like “hug,” “snuggle,” “kiss,” affectionate nicknames, and “I love you,” often as jokes or platonic intimacy at most.

Over time, the other person began sending and drawing explicit or sexual content involving themself. This made me uncomfortable and distressed. I did not ask for this content and did not want sexual interaction, but I failed to shut it down immediately.

I froze because I was afraid of confrontation, afraid of hurting them, and afraid of losing a friend. At one point, I said something like “we could be together next year.” Which… I now understand that it was absolutely inappropriate and awful to say at all and could be interpreted differently and I am genuinely disgusted and horrified with what I said, I know now that what i said was absolutely abhorrent and I wish I NEVER said that.

Eventually, I realized the situation was not okay and I blocked them and ended contact.

I went to my therapist and she told me “I am not sexually attracted to children. I made a mistake, I stopped, and I’m changing.” …I repeat this to myself multiple times and I’m trying to know that… I wish genuinely I never did such a thing because I feel nothing but disgust and remorse for everything…

Am I a pedo…? Or a groomer?

Posted Jan 10, 2026, 12:39 AM UTC

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