DID  YOU KNOW?

The following are some  indicators that a person  is being trafficked online:

• Minor with older boyfriend/girlfriend
• Minor involved in commercial prostitution
• Stopped attending school, work or social activities
• Isolated or withdrawn from family
• Doesn’t have access to money, cell phone, food, clothing or identification (these items are held as collateral by trafficker)
• Residency is a hotel or motel
• Runs away or discusses running away from home
• Sudden change in attire
• Behavior becomes erratic, severe mood swings
• Unexpected material possessions given to them by a “friend”
• Hides emails, text messages, or other online posts
• Extreme change in online behavior – suddenly online all the time or not interested in being online

Other key indicators of trafficking and slavery include:

• Presence of an overly controlling and abusive “boyfriend”
• Inability to look in the eyes or face of people, especially the “boyfriend”
• Injuries or signs of physical abuse or torture
• Signs of malnourishment
• Restricted or controlled communication
• Demeanor of fear, anxiety, depression, submissive, tense, nervous
• Claims of being an adult although appearance suggests adolescent features
• Lack of identification documents (ID, birth certificate, Social Security card)
• Presence of different aliases and ages
• Lack of knowledge of a given community or whereabouts
• Frequent movement
• Claims of “just visiting” and inability to clarify addresses
• Few or no personal possessions
• Inconsistencies in their story

For those in charge of awareness training and resources for teachers, FAIR Girls of Washington D.C. offers the following warning signs for potential child trafficking in students:

• A sudden withdrawal from friends or classmates
• Unexplained absences, particularly on Thursdays or Fridays
• A sudden shift in dress - particularly toward provocative or risqué clothing
• A new, much older boyfriend
• A growing occurrence for suddenly texting or wanting to step out of class to talk to someone
• A new, expensive phone and/or clothing that costs outside the student's price range
• Talk of going “clubbing” or dancing
• Talk of travel or going somewhere outside of the city

​Practical  help for   caretakers and adults:

• Don’t live in fear but be wise
• Be the parent before the best friend
• Monitor social media  
• Don’t ever think or say “not my kid”
• Student surveys on a national level indicate students are afraid, nervous, and hesitant to ask parents for help after encountering tough issues online
• Provide your child the “X-Plan": they text you an "x" and you immediately respond with a call informing them you need to know where they are as there's a situation at home you need them to be there for...arrive quickly and listen to your student without "how did you get into this mess," "I told you not to hang out with them," "how could you be so stupid" etc...the goal is to appreciate the fact they sent you an "x" admitting them need your help so provide them that help because the immediate goal is to keep them safe
• Be careful with your own social media posts especially pictures of your children
• Do understand you are going against culture
• Do understand every family will deal with this issue differently
• Do be consistent in your plan after discussing it clearly with your student(s)
• Remember – you own their devices and have the right to know all the passwords and should check their devices as often as you feel it's necessary
• Remember – it’s not IF your child will encounter challenges via social media it’s WHEN and you need to be ready
• Easier to teach than un-teach to teach them well and teach them early and lead by example
• You are only as safe as your stupidest friend(s) online = applies to adults too
• Ready to get radical?
  • Controlled text groups only
  • No technology in any bedroom ever (an alarm clock can wake you up)
  • Be sure your student knows you are willing to trust them until they give you a reason not to
  • Continue to educate yourself on recent social media apps and ways to stay SAFER
  • Start a parent discussion group
• Never forget you can make a difference when you truly understand…
  • It’s all about the EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABILITY! Anything and everything you can do to lessen the vulnerability in your student to being exploited is a win!
    WIN BIG WITH YOUR STUDENT(S)!

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NATIONAL HOTLINE PHONE #: 1.888.373.7888 

Text "HELP" or "INFO" to the number 233733 (BeFree)