#STOPTHEWARONCHILDREN
~ In 2024, the center that tracks child exploitation nationally received over 5,500 reports of sexually exploiting content related to generated AI. AI is the number 1 tool being used to target and groom children at this time.
~ One common misconception is that all online sexual offenses against children come primarily from strangers or only adults. Many times it comes from peers.
~ The largest number of offenses against children online are with people that they already know, not strangers. These are people from their school, even their friend group, people who they've courted/dated, people they've met in the neighborhood or at church, parent/relative of a friend, etc... who then use the internet to draw them in.
~ Peer offenses are just as common, harmful and upsetting to youth as offenses that happen at the hands of strangers/adults.
~Some good questions to begin with:
• What different apps are you using?
• What are you doing online?
• What's the weirdest question you've gotten from someone online?
• Let me go through your APPS/photos/etc *check for secret APPS*
**Secret APPS include, but are not limited to, APPS that appear to be calculators, settings, bibles, and so much more. These APPS are designed to be the "perfect place to hide your personals" and marketed to youth especially. They appear to be one thing but are more than what meets the eye. Some of the calculator APPS actually work as calculators but if a special (secret) code is punched in it opens up to a hidden photo album or chat exchange, etc)**
APPS HANDOUT
From there, you can transition into more specific questions like:
• Has anyone ever asked you for a picture online?
• Has anyone ever asked you to pose for them?
• Has anyone ever asked you for a nude picture?
• What would you do if someone asked you something like that, or threatened you with an already existing image or text??
~ Establish device-free zones in your home and a device bedtime.
~ 4 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
~ Approximately 80% of children who are victims know their abuser.
~ Research suggests sexual abuse in sports impacts between 12-32% of all athletes, including child athletes.
~ About 1 in 5 elite athletes were sexually fondled or assaulted by a sport official, coach or peer athlete.
~ In 2024, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received more than 44 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation and more than 300,000 reports of possible child sex trafficking.
~ Sex Trafficking is sexual abuse that occurs when a victim is advertised, solicited or exploited through a commercial sex act. A commercial sex act is any sex act where something of value - such as money, drugs, or a place to stay is given or received by any person for sexual favors.
~ As many as 90% of Sex-Trafficking victims have a history of child sexual or physical/mental abuse. They are prime targets!
~ A huge network of online predators has been using common social media and gaming sites to find victims, with the goal of grooming, and manipulating them.
~ Targets that include vulnerable youth:
• Depression, Eating Disorders, Mental Health Issues/Problems
• Poverty Stricken Homes, Single Parent Homes, Broken Homes, Neglected, Left Alone, Latch-Key Kids, No Guidance or Structure
• Intelligent, Artsy, Talented
• ANY CHILD IS A POTENTIAL TARGET!!!