Have The Talk

While the subject of human trafficking isn’t a pleasant one, parents must have a hard conversation about this topic. It’s up to us as parents to inform our children of the dangers out there, all around them. Our world is not one of innocence that values the virtue of young children any longer. Those days are long gone if they ever existed at all. Today, human trafficking and its explosion throughout the nation has led to the victimization of kids from virtually every imaginable walk of life. 

Victims Are Found Everywhere

Human trafficking rings don’t have any qualms about victimizing any particular type of child. Their goal is to enslave as many kids as they can to build their sex trafficking ring and make more money. Of course, kids are easier targets if they are from homes where they are not supported, valued, or loved. However, any child, in any home situation, even those with a good support system who have their needs supplied, are at risk. That is why it’s important to talk about this reality with kids even when it’s not a fun topic at all. 

Why The Conversation is Necessary, Especially Today

Marisol Nichols, who is an actress, took the opportunity to broach the subject at the MAKERS Conference. She said, “This is a dark subject, and people don’t necessarily want to hear about it, but if good people don’t hear about it then nothing gets done about it.”  An FBI source found human trafficking is thriving and presenting a very real danger to kids even within the confines of the perceived safety of their own homes. In fact, according to statistics, there are more than 500,000 predators online every day, attempting to contact and groom children into the human trafficking industry.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates some 40% of sex trafficking victims are recruited online. When you combine that statistic with the fact that 35% of teens aged 13 to 17 are on social media platforms nearly constantly, the problem becomes apparent. Parents today have to get ahead of this trend and communicate with kids as early as they feel it’s appropriate about the dangers of social media and human trafficking in general.