BE ALERT AND BE AWARE AGAINST ONLINE PREDATORS
Online sexual exploitation is the act of sharing (or threatening to share) sexual images or information online through the use of digital technology as a means to sexually abuse or exploit children, distress the victim, and/or to gain financially.
The activities of these online predators include grooming, live streaming, consuming child sexual abuse materials, and coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.
The statistics for the online sexual exploitation of children are staggering. 1 in 5 children will be solicited by an online predator. Last year, tech companies reported over 45 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused (this is more than double the amount reported from the previous year). Additionally, the number of sexually exploited child photos/videos are vastly under-reported since many tech companies fail too adequately police sexual abuse imagery on their platforms.
Victims are frequently between the ages of 10-17, with young females being more vulnerable to these attacks. However, there are numerous horrific images of videos of children as young as 3 or 4 years old being sexually abused and tortured. Pedophiles conceal their identity by using encryption software. There is also a rise in the number of online groups who use encrypted technologies and the dark web to share images of young children and extreme forms of abuse. These sickening groups even teach their members how to carry out crimes against children as well as how to record and share images of their abuse without detection by the authorities. Unfortunately, the alarming growth of these twisted adults who are sexually obsessed with children are sickening, and we must work together to fight this evil.
The lack of resources allocated to fight this epidemic is shameful. Although data shows the number of leads referred for online exploitation has grown by 400% in less than decade, the amount of federal funding used to fight this epidemic has remained flat at approximately $30 million dollars over that same period. How can our leaders not make protecting our children a bigger concern? For just a few examples of the inexcusable lack of resources allocated to fight the online exploitation of children; our federal government allocated in 2022 $2.6 billion for gender equity programs worldwide, $25 million in gender affirming care, $66.4 billion to illegal aliens, and $46 billion to implement Critical Race Theory in school curriculum in 13 states.
Online Predator Practices:
Fake Profiles – Predators will lie about age, use phoney profile pictures, etc.
Contact – Predators will use social media networks, direct messaging, gaming platforms and WhatsApp (doesn't offer prohibitions against inappropriate content, keep record of conversations, and uses WiFi instead of phone service so predators can communicate across international lines).
Align Interests – Predators will align interests in hobbies, TV shows/movies, taste in music, etc. with that of your child's.
Flattery – Predators will use flattery to start a relationship with your child.
Desensitize Victims – Predators will desensitize kids towards sex (tell dirty jokes, discuss explicit sexual content, share pornography, ask about victims sex life, etc.).
Trust – Predators will work to gain your child's trust and undermine relationships with family and friends - "No one understands you like I do".
Meeting – Predators are evil and cunning and will use coercion and even blackmail to achieve their ultimate goal of arranging an in-person meeting(s) with your child.
Parents should...
Talk to their child about the frequency of online predators going after children.
Discuss unsafe online behavior such as seeking online friends to discuss topics such as sex and drugs.
Explain signs of a risky relationship, which include talk about drugs/sex, sending sexy photos/videos, and pressure to keep their chats secret.
Dangers of chat rooms – No private chats with strangers.
No online flirting – Predators will look for kids who want to talk dirty and share explicit photos/videos.
Offline safety rules – Never agree to an in-person meeting with someone they only know online or post phone numbers, addresses, school information, or other details about themselves or family/friends.
Communication – Your child must feel they can always come to you with any questions or worries.
Warning signs of possible contact by an online predator:
Secretive – Child keep secrets or lies about online activities including changing screens or turning off computer when an adult enters the room.
Downloads – Child begins downloading inappropriate and pornographic content.
Obsessive Behavior – Child becomes obsessed with being online.
Gifts – Child receives gifts (clothes, phones, etc.) and packages from someone you don’t know.
Money – Child suddenly has money.
Less talkative – Avoid talking about their online activity.
Withdraw – Suddenly avoids spending time with family and friends.
SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD IS BEING CONTACTED BY AN ONLINE PREDATOR.
(561) 688-4990 or Local Police Department
TOGETHER WE CAN FIGHT THE ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOTIATION OF CHILDREN BY:
- ADVOCATING FOR SUBSTANCIAL INCREASES IN FEDERAL LAW ENFORECEMENT FUNDING TO FIGHT THIS EPIDEMIC.
- DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL COLLATERAL FOR FAMILIES, YOUTH GROUPS, SCHOOLS, AND NOT FOR PROFIT CHILDREN ORGANIZATIONS.
- PROVIDING STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGIES TO FIGHT AGAINST ADVANCED ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE AND PLATFORMS.
- HELPING VICTIMS ELIMINATE THEIR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OFF THE DARK WEB.
- REQUIRING (NOT VOLUNTARY) TECH COMPANIES TO MONITOR FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES/VIDEOS.
- LOBBYING FOR HEFTY FINES TO TECH COMPANIES WHO DO NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM AUTHORITIES IN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME (SOMETIMES LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS NO RESPONSE OR WAITS WEEKS AND MONTHS FOR ANSWERS).
- ASSISTING CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMIIES WITH ANY NECESSARY MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
DID YOU KNOW?
Child Solicitation – 1 in 5 children will be solicited by an online predator.
Abuse – 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
Victims – 75% of the victims targeted by online predators are female with the typical age range being 10-17 (with reported cases being as young as 3-4 years old).
Online Content – Last year, tech companies reported over 45 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused.
JOIN OUR CAUSE
American Society for the Protection of Freedom and Families (ASPFF) will bring attention, advocacy, education, and resources to fight against these sick and twisted online predators. No child is immune from these cunning online predators. We will work to reduce the dramatic rise in the number of child online exploitation victims by educating parents, youth, teachers, and mentors. ASPFF will advocate for more resources and policy reform to fight against this epidemic and apprehend these sick individuals. For more information about the ASPFF Online Child Sexual Exploitation Program, please email info@aspff.org.
ASPFF is a Donor and Volunteer Based Organization that relies on you:
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