The Dangers of Sex Trafficking and Pornography

Did you know that people who consume pornography are typically exposed to it before they even turn 18? What’s worse, is that most of them don’t even know what goes in the production and creation of the pornography they are watching. They may not know how those performers got on camera in the first place or the events that brought them there, and how many of them may not have been there of their own free will.

Many traffickers use pornography as a means to make money from their victims and create a psychological reason for them to stay. There are many dangers that come from pornography that your children need to know about. Here is how to start the conversation with your kids and educate them on the dangers of sex trafficking.

Talk to your children about sex trafficking

Children and teenagers are more likely to be targeted for sex trafficking than any other demography. Victims are usually lured in with the promise of a better life, money, or any number of things that make it sound worth it. They look for ways to exploit their victim’s dreams into a way to get them to get on board. Traffickers could be people they know such as classmates, or even a member of the same sex. Sex traffickers have even been known to use kids to recruit children. For more information about how pornography can fuel sex trafficking, read this post.

Sending inappropriate pictures and texts

It’s important to not only teach your children about the dangers of sending or receiving these types of messages but tell them what is and isn’t okay to send. Here are a few key talking points when talking to your kids about inappropriate content:

It’s a crime to see, show, or even forward a photo or video of anyone under the age of 18 in an inappropriate context.
Teach your children not to take these photos, and what to do if they see or hear about it.
Here is how to report inappropriate content through Google, and remind them to contact a trusted adult such as a principal or teacher if they see it at school.

Teach your child what to do if they come across inappropriate content

If your child does come across inappropriate content, make sure they know what to do. Teach them to do the following if they come across inappropriate content on the web:

Back out and exit the website
Do not share or tell minors
Report the unlawful content to an authority figure

Educate your kids about the dangers of pornography

Pornography is just one of the avenues that sex trafficked individuals may find themselves. It’s important to teach your kids about the dangers of pornography. There are a ton of great resources out there to help educate your kids about the different dangers that pornography can pose. Here are a few that are worth looking into:

Talking with your children is the first step to prevent sex trafficking. For more information about how to talk with your children, visit https://fightthenewdrug.org/.

Lea Bodie