Social media can be a gateway to human trafficking. Here are some tips to staying safe.
People targeting women and young people for sex trafficking know how to use social media to their advantage. Here’s how to stay alert and stay safe.
Instagram’s recent announcement of changes it says will keep teens safer points to the negative aspects of social media, such as mental health problems resulting from body image worries, glorification of suicide, sharing of intimate photos and videos, and more. What’s less often mentioned is the way would-be human traffickers use Instagram, Tik Tok and other social media to groom young women and eventually force them into having sex with strangers for money.
Sex trafficking isn’t only for big cities. It happens right here, in the Kawarthas.
Sex trafficking is the most common form of human trafficking in Canada, according to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCEHT). It happens everywhere, although it’s most prevalent in big cities. Here in Kawartha Lakes, traffickers may bring women and young people here and operate out of a residence or motel, or they may be area residents forcing others into sex work against their will.
On Instagram or elsewhere, traffickers will focus their energy especially on teenagers. They might send lots of direct messages, building a connection the recipient sees as genuine and emotional. After the “love bombing” phase—flattery and even gifts—the conversation often turns overtly sexual. The trafficker will become threatening, insisting the teen not tell anyone about their interactions.
The initial request may come through a fake account or be from a friend of a friend or a family acquaintance. It’s okay to ask questions like “How do we know each other?” and to block an account if something doesn’t feel right. It’s also smart to keep accounts private, as with the new teen account on Instagram.
No matter how kind or even loving the person seems, it’s important not to share a lot of personal details. (The same is true for the main account, and those of parents. Be careful about providing information about where you live or go to school.)
You are not alone.
A teen who is tricked into sending intimate photos often feels they have nowhere to turn, but the only way to break a trafficker’s hold is to go to a trusted adult or even the police if someone is trying to force a meeting or a sexual encounter via blackmail. Everyone makes mistakes, but no one should feel they have to give in when help is available.
The biggest thing victims of sex trafficking need is a safe place to escape to. Victoria’s Shelter in Lindsay is always available to teenagers and women looking to escape a trafficker’s control and rebuild their lives. We are also on social media @womensresources. DM us or call 705-878-3662 or 1-800-565-5350. We’re here 24/7/365.
By Nancy Payne
