Sexual Exploitation Learning the Signs
Sexual Exploitation of children by online predators happens when a child believes that the acts in question (sexual) are a normal part of life. The beliefs that come from trickery, fraud or forced upon them. Sexual exploitation is not a normal part of growing up. With this in mind, we all know the challenges of being an adolescent. Adolescents is challenging for both children and adults. We as parents want our kids to learn from new experiences. Yet we also want to protect them from harm.
When it comes to Online Predators facts, there is only one you want to know. Online Predators want to our children for sexual exploitation.
When we as a society consider the meaning of sexual exploitation, only one definition comes to mind. The one issue that we must understand is the fact that sexual exploitation does not necessarily involve intercourse. While it is true that intercourse can happen, it is not always the case. Sexual Exploitation can take many different forms. Whether or not an online predator or a family member coerces the exploitation, the following holds true. It is all for the manipulation of our children. Sexual exploitation can happen on a date with teenagers. Should a young male coerce or by chance drug a female for the purposes of sex, this is not only rape, it is sexual exploitation.
This manipulation or control of our children is all a predator needs to feel power. This power comes from coercing our children into doing something they would not normal do. While, one online predator may only want to have conversations about sexual topics, another may want pictures. The wants vary from predator to predator. Regardless, of the wants of online predators, it is all sexual exploitation. Many will use trickery or other methods to get what they want.
Signs to Watch For
In all honesty, the warning signs can mirror other behavior besides sexual exploitation.
- Has your child become secretive, or stop engaging with their normal friends? Have they become prone to drastic mood swings? While mood swings are common, the severity is most important.
- Have they started to befriend or associate with older adults, either male or female? Bear in mind that perpetrators groom the child using others to lure your child. (More on grooming)
- Has your child become defensive about where they have been, or whom they are with? Are they starting to break curfew?
- Has your child started receiving messages on their phones or through other social media platforms from people you do not know?
- Has your child recently come into possession of expensive items? Items such as, cell phones, jewelry, or new clothing?
- Have their music taste, or dress changed? Are they sleeping at unusual hours? Have you seen scars or marks that are new with no explanation?
What do Online Predators Do?
Online Predators are very good at what they do. Predators may not always use the internet to select their victims. They can and will use others to do their work. Please remember when we asked, if your child has new friends? Some online predators will use their own children or a younger family member to recruit victims. In reality, this is not an uncommon practice. This is just one-way how online predators operate. In addition, this can be a parent, older sibling or anyone related to the victim.
Because of this, we will look at just one example. In our case it will be a parent. A child who suffers for a long period, at some point believe it is normal. In the case a female being raised by her father after the mother has died. This child believes that she needs to take her Mother’s place in all aspects. The unfortunate reality is this child is now a victim of sexual exploitation and does not realize it.
What Happens Next
This female is now under complete control. She believes that sex with her father is normal. In addition she thinks that getting her picture taken is normal. Her father will not start to use her to recruit new victims. By having friends stay over, allowing the use of drugs and alcohol in the home. She will be taught how to get her friends to take pictures or by performing sex acts. Video or pictures capture everything. Exactly what happens when these girls get older is a good question.
However, many may think that there are only two victims in this scenario. Not only do we have the first and second victim of this predator, we have the families. Many times, we forget to think of the family and only think of the child. Online Predators affect every one, families, friends, communities and the victims are all affected.
As a reminder, the videos, and pictures, were sold and traded online.
Facts to Remember
Sexual Exploitation has many forms. Sexual exploitation does not always involve intercourse. In some cases, all the online predator is looking are images. These images are traded or sold to get more images. Thus the circle of child porn and online predators. While we would like to see an end to all predators and child porn, we know the only way is to act as a whole. An important fact is that an image does not need to be sexually suggestive, what is important is the context of the image. Alternatively, it is not always images; it could be suggestive remarks or conversations about sex.
Online Predators do not always work online or even alone. Predators will hide their identity from everyone. Moreover, online predators will use their family, friends, and even their own children to get what they want. What they want are our children, for their own sexual pleasures and self-gratification. More and more they are getting images for monetary gains. Some may want our children to become prostitutes and drug runners. No matter how it shapes up or the reason, all of us need to work together to put an end to online predators and their ways.
Many signs that point to sexual exploitation may just be normal behavior of some youths. They can be warnings of other dangers your child could facing. Warning signs that include, drugs, bullying, gangs, or other problems associated with growing up. The goal of many online predators is to drive a wedge between you and your child. We must talk to our children about the topic of sexual exploitation and online predators.
Sexual exploitation of our children is not going to stop until everyone realizes that this issue exists and is not a work of fiction. The same goes for online predators, society know they exists however, society also thinks it always someone else’s problem. Until society removes the collective heads from where ever they have them stuck, we cannot end this. Our children are in danger every day of becoming a target. Online predators and the sexual exploitation of our children must end today.
We most act today to stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Online Predators.