Dear Friend,
School is out and for most kids, summer is filled with family vacations, sleeping in, and BBQ's. One area that doesn’t typically come to mind is the online safety of our kids. With extra downtime, kids will spend more time online. Here are a few statistics that are alarming and should remind you how important it is to talk to your kids about online safety.
- 31% of kids ages 12-18 have lied about their age in order to access a website.
- 90% of children ages 8-16 have seen online pornography.
- Law enforcement officials estimate that more than 50,000 sexual predators are online at any given moment.
Traffickers are using the Internet as a way to target young kids. Traffickers lure their target into an online relationship, with the ultimate goal of meeting in person. Victims are often showered with love and hopeful promises. Others are pulled in with a better paying job or gifts. The goal of the trafficker is to manipulate them.
With the increased use of social media, the buying and selling of human beings has become as easy as searching on Google. Dark websites have made it easier than ever for traffickers to find victims and accept payments. Traffickers are able to quickly become your friend and follow potential victims. Keep in mind, traffickers may use social media as a way to reach more victims at a faster rate.
Social media adds another touch point for traffickers. We know there is still much more work to be done in combating sex trafficking. One way to fight this is through education. Education plays a huge role in the prevention of sex trafficking. With that in mind, it is vital to have these important conversations with your kids. If you need some ideas on how to start this conversation, we have included some resources for you on our website. Check it out here.
Communicating with children and being able to recognize the red flags will go a long way in combating this horrific crime.
God bless you and stay well.
Lisa Heth
Pathfinder Center, Executive Director