Danger! Understanding the Dynamics of Social Media Human Trafficking Recruitment…

Marina Anderson, Regional Human Trafficking Coordinator, Florida Department of Children and Families Social media is increasingly being exploited to contact, recruit, and sell children for sex. Some traffickers use online ads to target victims while others use social media to strike up conversations and develop online friendships. These conversations may start off friendly and innocently, but then the traffickers will begin to use manipulation to charm their potential victims to lure them into human trafficking. During this session, attendees will learn to recognize signs of social media recruitment, the dangers of popular social media sites and apps, and the hidden meanings used to communicate sexual gestures when communicating with popular emojis.