Online exploitation can happen in 10 minutes — tips to stop it before it starts
It began as a simple “Hi, I don’t normally do this, but I’ve seen your posts and I just feel really connected to you.” Next, the online “friend” was asking for pictures. Innocent enough, right? “You’re really smart. What do you look like?” It didn’t stop there. Soon the person was asking for sexual photos, and then wanted to meet up. “You’re so beautiful. I’d love to see you in person. Can we hang out tonight?”
How long do you think it took for all of this to happen? Weeks? Months? Years? According to experts, it could happen in less than an hour.
We don’t say this to alarm you. But if you don’t think a short period of unsupervised internet use could put your child at risk of victimization, consider the facts. A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice shows just how quickly it can happen. Using data from criminal justice offender reports, researchers analyzed chat logs, email threads and social media posts. The results are shocking.
That’s right, the analysis showed that online interactions can escalate rapidly — even in less than 10 minutes. Scary, but it doesn’t mean you’re defenseless. Here are two ways to take action and prevent exploitation from happening in the first place.
Talk to your kids — 5 questions to ask them about online safety
We encourage you to talk to your kids and have an open conversation. This can be uncomfortable, but, trust us, it’s worth it. Preparing your child ahead of time helps them make smart decisions if they are ever faced with online dangers. Here are five questions to get you started.
“What’s your favorite thing to do online?”
Ask them how their favorite game works or what’s their favorite aspect of their social media app. Online services have a lot of good things to offer, helping them communicate, be creative and have fun. Learn how your child is using the internet, and truly listen when they share.
“How has the way you use the internet changed over the past year?”
This can provide surprising insights, especially now that so many kids are spending more time online. Maybe your kids are filling their time on new websites, apps or games. Perhaps virtual learning has opened the doors to new online tools that they’re still a bit unfamiliar with.
“What does the stuff you post online say about you?”
Together, look up your child’s name on a search engine and on each social media platform they are on, and see what comes up. Remind them that those things could stay on there forever, for anyone to see. Ask what they think the images and posts say about them and how they think someone would perceive them based on that content. Have a conversation about how posting things that disrespect themselves can make them a target.
“How do you decide who to trust in the digital world?”
Talk about how they determine if someone isn’t who they say they are. Make sure you discuss things that are off limits, like meeting up with someone they met online or sending personal details.
“What would you do if you saw something concerning online?”
It’s important that you let your child know it is safe for them to come to you with their concerns and that you will listen without judgment. Also, help them form a plan, like using privacy settings and alerting a safe adult right away.
Want more? We have more. Read our blog 3 tips for helping your kids stay safe on social media for a deeper dive into how to equip your kids to be on guard and protect themselves online. Be sure to visit our Education page for guides, videos and articles on how to keep your kids safe and spot the signs of exploitation. You’ll also find tips on having conversations to help children set physical boundaries and practicing scenarios that teach them what to do in risky situations.
Host a Just1 presentation — help kids avoid risk-taking behaviors
“Some of you might think, this doesn’t apply to me, I’m not at risk of being trafficked. Unfortunately, if you’re breathing, you’re at risk.” So began a Just1 presentation a few years ago, where listeners learned surprising facts about the fastest growing industry in the world — human trafficking — and how they could be part of the solution to stop it from happening.
We have designed these presentations to help equip the young people in your life so they can guard against the dangers. Most are unaware of these dangers, and that puts them at risk of falling prey to the tactics of abusers. Sex trafficking and exploitation may seem like a big-scale problem that you only hear about on the news, but it can start — or stop — with little online interactions in your own home. Being prepared can make all the difference.
Here are just a few things you will learn from our presentations.
What exactly is sex trafficking and exploitation
Behaviors that make someone vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation
What the abusers look for when choosing their target
Top recruitment tactics used by abusers
How to protect yourself from being exploited — online and while you’re out and about
Who are these presentations good for? Just about anybody. Groups of parents or teens, schools, churches or even businesses can host a presentation.
However you decide to get the conversation going, don’t put it off because exploitation can happen fast and it may be more common than you think. According to one report, approximately 1 in 11 young people experienced an unwanted sexual solicitation in a recent year. Suspect you or someone you know is in danger? Report it right away.