A Study Pointed Out Human Trafficking Risk On Facebook, Snapchat

A new study suggests that human trafficking criminals are using social media as a channel to find prospective juvenile victims. The most common used social network includes Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, Blendr and Yellow.

According to the study by Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute of the University of Toledo in Ohio, US, for their preparation, these criminals learn everything their victims write and post on social network to gain their trust.

The study also show us how the traffickers rapidly identify and approach vulnerable children on the Internet via social media.

During the whole process, the traffickers persuade the children to send a risky photo which then turns into an extorting tool.

Usually, children are afraid of being exposed by their parents and the criminals take advantages of this fear to move their business to a less managed site. Particularly, they may say things like "You don't want your parents to find out what we're talking about".

Technology advancement makes it even easier for traffickers to promote several victims at the same time.

Celia Williamson, Professor of Social Work at the University of Toledo emphasized the importance of educating parents, professionals and youth, especially middle school and teenage girls, about online risks. In particular, they need to understand the dangers of online predatory practices conducted by schemers.

She also stated that this outreach and education can be useful in preventing children from becoming modern-day slaves.

In the study, researchers had in-depth interviews with 16 knowledgeable members from Ohio law enforcement, judges, direct service providers, advocates and researchers that worked with online trafficked victims.

The research illustrated how the criminals conduct each step from approaching the victims online, grooming them, to avoiding detection and transiting from online to in-person connections.

About this, Williamson pointed out that the process of moving from connecting online to in person is getting less prevalent. He also claimed the role of technology advancement in making human trafficking cues more difficult to recognize and helping traffickers to exploit their victims without meeting face-to-face.