Dear Friend,
School is out for most kids, which means online safety is something that should be on the top of our minds.
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 better-paying jobs 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 have become as easy as searching on Google. Traffickers are able to quickly become your friend and follow potential victims. Keep in mind, that traffickers may use social media as a way to reach more victims at a faster rate.
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.
