To combat this, police in Panama City and surrounding areas warn that social media poses the greatest danger to children, as it pertains to sex trafficking. Furthermore, traffickers often use social media to pose as friends of children, getting their guards down.
The next part of grooming occurs when these traffickers offer gifts or money. They also share kind words and otherwise work to gain kids’ trust. By the time traffickers physically get access to kids, the selling, blackmail, and sexual exploitation of these minors begins.
Ahead of the physical contact, traffickers often lure children into sending over their private information.
Therefore, Panama City law enforcement urges parents to have conversations with their kids about safe social media usage; one huge part of this involves parents letting their kids know about the information they shouldn’t share online.
Defeating human trafficking
Children account for roughly one in four trafficked persons. Despite the darkness of human trafficking, burying one’s head in the sand and ignoring it is not acceptable.
