Email from USCCB   Hidden in Plain Sight: A USCCB/MRS Anti-trafficking Reflection Series October Reflection Issue 4 The influence of Social Media on Human Trafficking Throughout the development of technology, it has become a constant that individuals have access to social media at a younger age. While social media is promoted as a safe space for individuals to connect with friends and family, it also can lead to detrimental outcomes if not utilized properly. One of these detrimental outcomes is sadly human trafficking. Traffickers can utilize social media, as it is readily available, and pose as anyone that they want to be as they are behind a screen. They could pose as a close friend that a victim might know or as a stranger who looks about their age. This is the start of the grooming process. Traffickers will then create a dialogue with the attempted victim and start to gain their trust through “mutual interests.” This is especially apparent in the platforms of Instagram and Facebook as one may not be aware of who they are talking to through direct messaging as opposed to Snapchat. It is through these platforms that traffickers can view hobbies, family members, and one’s life documentation through photos. These photos can then spark conversations between a trafficker and a potential victim creating a cycle of abuse. Likewise, it can also lead to fake message promotions asking to send products to one’s house which can also be a trafficking tactic. In addition, these potential victims may be struggling with issues of low self-esteem or anxiety as it is common within these platforms to compare oneself to another person. Additionally, these platforms allow traffickers to have access to more than one victim at a time. Traffickers can create various profiles in which no one would ever know that it is all one person. This can make a harder time for investigators to pinpoint one person who is doing these actions as there could be hundreds of profiles for one trafficker. In addition, these types of actions are not susceptible to solely Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Instead, it can be applied to dating apps, commercial websites, and more. This can then create a tougher time for parents to have a grasp on what their children are watching and interacting with via the internet, which is the perfect spot for traffickers to prey on innocent children. Trafficking via social media is a growing method. Traffickers have the digital means to create profiles and prey on individuals who may lack self-confidence as it can be easy, especially for young girls, to compare oneself to models or other celebrities. In this way, it can be difficult for individuals to understand what is occurring, creating a cycle of vulnerability and access to personal information for exploitation. Through educating parents, guardians, and those utilizing social media, society can better protect defenseless individuals and aid in combatting human trafficking. How to Stay Safe Online: Online Safety Tips DHS Online Safety Shared Hope International Online Safety Human Trafficking and Social Media If you want to learn more about the USCCB/MRS' Anti-Trafficking Program, reach out to: Felicitas Brugo Onetti Anti-Trafficking Education and Outreach Coordinator Email: [email protected] Phone: (202) 541-3064   USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE | Washington, DC 20017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice