Underage — Tag Meaning
An official Archive Warning applied when a work depicts sexual activity involving characters under 18; the archive has more recently clarified the warning's wording as referring specifically to underage sex. As with the other major warnings, authors must either apply it where relevant or choose not to warn.
What to Expect From "Underage" Fics
This warning exists so readers can screen such content out completely. Excluding both this warning and Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings is the most thorough way to avoid it.
How to find Underage fics on AO3
On AO3, click any tag to see every work that uses it, then refine with the "Filters" sidebar — combine it with your fandom or ship, set a rating, or exclude tags you don't want. See our AO3 filtering guide for the full walkthrough.
Browse "Underage" works on AO3Popular Fics Tagged "Underage"
Real examples from AO3's most-kudosed works:
Related Tags
Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
One of AO3's warning options, often abbreviated CNTW or 'chose not to warn.' It means the author is declining to confirm or deny whether any of the four major warnings apply, sometimes to avoid spoilers and sometimes because the content is hard to classify.
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Rape/Non-Con
An official Archive Warning disclosing that a work depicts non-consensual sexual activity. AO3's policy allows such content to exist on the archive provided it is warned for, which is why this label exists: it gives readers the information needed to make an informed choice before opening a work.
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Dead Dove: Do Not Eat
Named after an Arrested Development gag, this tag means: the warnings are not exaggerating, the dark content is exactly what it says, and the author is exploring it deliberately. It is fandom's strongest 'proceed with full knowledge' label, used on fic whose disturbing elements are the point rather than incidental.
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Read Underage fanfiction on the go
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