NOT HERE Presents: The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking
November 12 & 13, 2015
The Countdown: 86 Days Remaining
August 4th began our 100 day countdown leading up to The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking in Maine. Over these 100 days, we will be sharing a fact, a resource, or a perspective each day, to raise awareness, encourage discussion, and inspire action against injustice, both domestically, and globally.
Today’s Featured Resource: A guide from the FBI on keeping children safe from online predators
While computers and the internet have opened up wonderful learning opportunities for young people and adults alike, it is important to note these opportunities do not come without risks. Increasingly, there are more and more individuals attempting to sexually exploit children online, and they, like our kids, have discovered social media networks.
So how do we keep kids safe online in an age where social networking sites make it easy for child predators to create fake profiles and lure in children whom the predators intend on exploiting? Could YOU identify the warning signs that may indicate that YOUR CHILD is at risk online?
As the FBI points out:
“There are individuals who attempt to sexually exploit children through the use of on-line services and the Internet. Some of these individuals gradually seduce their targets through the use of attention, affection, kindness, and even gifts. These individuals are often willing to devote considerable amounts of time, money, and energy in this process. They listen to and empathize with the problems of children. They will be aware of the latest music, hobbies, and interests of children. These individuals attempt to gradually lower children’s inhibitions by slowly introducing sexual context and content into their conversations.”¹
While some exploiters may be obvious and direct, trying to engage kids in sexually explicit conversations immediately after connecting with the child online, other predators take time to earn the child’s trust and gradually manipulate them with the intent to exploit. Predators can pretend to be any age online, even your child’s age, and may even lure children into face-to-face meetings.
¹ Source: https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide
Do YOU want to KNOW more?
Read the guide from the FBI: A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety
The FBI has prepared this tool from actual investigations involving child victims, and investigations where law enforcement officers posed as children.
Do YOU want to DO more?
Download the pdf: here
Share it with your friends and colleagues, post it on your own social media page, and start a discussion about safety today.
We invite you to like us on facebook, follow us on twitter, and share these resources in your social networks to help us raise awareness that yes, human trafficking DOES happen in Maine AND around the globe, and EVERYONE needs to be involved to stop it.
Looking for more information on The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking?
Stay tuned! Registration information for the Summit will be coming VERY soon!