5 Important Things To Know About Child Sex Trafficking

Child sex trafficking is a serious problem. The more we know about it as a people the more we have the power to do something about it. One way to put a stop to this madness is to be aware of the facts. If you can’t know everything, at least understand some things that are very relevant to the existence of sex trafficking. Keep your eyes open, your thoughts clear, and know what to look for.

1. Sex Trafficking Victims are Groomed

Although sometimes victims do get kidnapped, tied up, and pulled into a vehicle it is not often. Most times when kids get trafficked their captive plays the role of a concerned friend. They show up with gifts and attention. They are a shoulder for them to cry on, and a friend to hang out with. The trafficker earns the trust of the victim and uses it to manipulate them. Sometimes this grooming can go on for weeks or months.

2. Social Media Plays a Big Part

Many of the children that are being trafficked are forced to use their own accounts to solicit business and create ads. This is not to say that social media is to blame, but is to bring light to a topic that we should all be aware of. Learn to keep your eyes open when using different apps and see whether or not some of the posts could be related to a sex trafficking ring. Paying attention could save a life.

3. Victims are Brainwashed

You might envision all sex traffic victims as being beaten and forced to go everywhere in chains. This is not always so. Some of these young people are convinced that their captors have their best interests in mind. They believe that the people that are making a profit from them having sex love them and care about them. Some of these kids are strung out on drugs while their pimps keep them high. Unfortunately, things in the sex trafficking realm are not always black and white. This is why it can be difficult to track victims down. They don’t want to be found.

4. Traffickers Don’t Discriminate

Although child sex trafficking pertains to children, the sex trafficking industry does not care about age. They will get anybody that they can make money off of. The background of a victim does not matter to them. All that matters is if they can get money. In some cases, a sex trafficking victim can live a normal life and do all of the normal things that people do because the traffickers keep them in fear of their lives, or their children’s lives by constantly threatening them or their loved ones. It is a dark, ugly world.

5. There is Hope

Although child sex trafficking is a horrible way of life for many children, a lot of them are able to escape it and get home. Depending on how traumatic the experience was there are different variables of damage that happen in these cases. Some children can go right back to the way things were without much of an issue, but others need extensive support and therapy to help them get past the horrors of being forced to endure atrocities.

Stay Informed with Kids Live Safe

Kids Live Safe is an organization that is passionate about keeping kids and other vulnerable people safe from sexual predators.  They even have a checklist available for precautions to take against kidnapping or abduction. One way to fight child sex trafficking is to know where the convicted offenders are. Kids Live Safe has databases that are filled with sex offender information, including photos, names addresses, and offences. They also have a program that you can sign up for that automatically sends updates when a sexual predator moves into your neighborhood. Having fresh, true information about the people who live in your area can save lives and keep loved ones out of harm’s way.