SAFETY DOC PODCAST 61: Online Predator Tactics | Child Grooming Awareness with Hector Solis

By David P. Perrodin | February 17, 2018 |

PODCAST-Dr. Perrodin and Hector Solis of Awareness Podcast traverse the uncomfortable and terrifying topics of youth grooming and youth trafficking. Despite its pivotal importance, this life-saving information is largely absent from mainstream media and school counseling curriculum. Yet choosing to ignore the monster does not make it disappear. CAUTION – MATURE CONTENT. This episode of The Safety Doc Podcast centers agency, purpose and personal well-being. We discuss adult themes, and therefore, this show is not recommended for younger audiences.

DIRECT LINK to MP3 of this Episode: https://tinyurl.com/SDP61

CHILD GROOMING IS RAMPANT IN AMERICA

This is an epidemic with incredible momentum and is scaling and spreading by cable and Wi-Fi across all socioeconomic and racial constructs to infiltrate stable, 2-parent households as well as single parent families or families in transition. In fact, Hector shares that some children have been communicating with groomers while in the same room with their family! We often hear people say, “Yes, but this happens to other people – it won’t happen to me.” This can happen to you – and if it does, you may never be able to mend the damage.

LESS THAN 2% OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS REPORTED

In a recent interview about human trafficking, expert Dottie Laster estimated that only 1 of 80-100 cases is reported due to traffickers being meticulous at hiding their involvement with victims (Solis, 2018).

WHAT IS CHILD GROOMING?

Groomers tell kids what they “WANT” to hear 100% of the time whereas parents tell the kids what they “NEED” to hear.

Child grooming is befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes the family, to lower the child’s inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse. It is also regularly used to lure minors into various illicit businesses such as child trafficking, child prostitution, the production of child pornography. Public social media profiles are constantly scanned by potential groomers. The grooming process is subtle and typically begins with benign interactions such as, “Hey, saw your profile image and noticed the concert poster in the back. I also went to that concert and really like that group. What is your favorite song?” Groomers cultivate a deep trust and loyalty from their targets, who often perceive them as friends and people that validate their thoughts, such as “I think you are totally right that your parents are being unfair about not letting you buy those things at the mall. My parents were the same way so I understand what you are going through…” Groomers tell kids what they “WANT” to hear 100% of the time whereas parents tell the kids what they “NEED” to hear.

QUESTIONS FOR COUNSELORS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO ASK YOUTH…

What do you know about the Internet?
Do you use privacy setting on your apps?
Help me to understand how the privacy settings work.
How many adult friends do you have online?
Do you communicate with adult friends online?
Do you share pictures of yourself with your online friends?
Have you shared pictures or texts that your parents might not approve of?
Are there any adults (not considering your parents) that you trust completely?

CALL TO ACTION

Ask children how they might inform an adult if they had concerns about being the recipient of grooming or if they suspected that a peer might be involved in a grooming situation. Most school reporting systems are designed for bullying, harassment or threats so please help students find the words and phrases they could use to express concerns about grooming. Victims may refrain from sharing of their experiences due to the phenomenon of “victim blaming”, or when others consider the victims to be partially responsible for their situations.

RESOURCES

THORN: https://www.wearethorn.org/child-sexual-exploitation-and-technology/

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN: http://www.missingkids.com/theissues/cse/cstt

FOLLOW

PodBean MP3 https://tinyurl.com/SDP61
Apple Podcasts http://tinyurl.com/SafetyDocApplePodcasts
SUBSCRIBE to “The Safety Doc” YouTube channel tinyurl.com/SDP-Welcome
The 405 Media http://the405media.com/the-safety-doc/
SAFETY DOC WEBSITE & BLOG safetyphd.com
Follow David & The Safety Doc Podcast on Twitter @SafetyPhD
Email Dr. Perrodin [email protected]

Looking for Dr. Timothy Ludwig, PhD?

Dr. Perrodin’s “Safety Doc Podcast” negotiates school and community safety. To be informed about industrial safety, please contact Appalachian State University Professor Dr. Timothy Ludwig, PhD, at www.safety-doc.com

About this Episode’s Guest – Hector Solis

Website: https://www.awarenesspodcast.com/contact-me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwarenessPod/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AwarenessPod
Email: [email protected]

Grooming / Human Trafficking Podcasts

Trafficked – Story by Dottie Laster & Online Grooming: Carly Ryan

https://awarenesspod.podbean.com/e/trafficked-story-by-dottie-laster-online-grooming-carly-ryan/

Online Grooming: The Grooming of Adults with Dottie Laster

https://awarenesspod.podbean.com/e/online-grooming-the-grooming-of-adults-with-dottie-laster/

Online Grooming: Internet Safety with Alicia Kozakiewicz

https://awarenesspod.podbean.com/e/online-grooming-internet-safety-with-alicia-kozakiewicz/

Facebook discussion groups (no restrictions people who request access will get approved)

https://www.facebook.com/pg/AwarenessPod/groups/?ref=page_internal

Awareness Podcast links

This link has the comprehensive resources for parents and educators. The 7 minute video they created has almost everything Hector already discussed about grooming. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/initiatives/world_wise_web0.html

Resource cited for this Safety Doc Podcast

Solis, H. (Producer). (2018, January 25). Trafficked – Story by Dottie Laster & Online Grooming: Carly Ryan. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://awarenesspod.podbean.com/e/trafficked-story-by-dottie-laster-online-grooming-carly-ryan/