Sex, Lies & Media Training Helps Parents Protect Their Kids From Online Exploitation
Kids of all ages are online more than ever, especially since education has transitioned to a virtual format. They are also engaging in social media, online gaming and other apps to stay connected and entertained. These innocent activities can lead to sexual predators preying on their vulnerabilities and luring them into a life of exploitation. Sex, Lies & Media Training was created by anti-sex trafficking service organization Selah Freedom and its network training partner, the Selah Way Foundation, who says 1 out of 9 children are approached by a predator online and that only accounts for reported cases. This is a major problem, but there are solutions to help parents protect their children and this series of training courses is an outstanding source of information that helps participants discover the power of their voices to speak up against abuse.
CHICAGO, May 18, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- "Sex, Lies & Media" training is a cutting-edge, multi-media presentation created by Selah Freedom, a network training partner of The Selah Way Foundation. The Selah Way Foundation is a global training network of best practices eradicating sex trafficking and exploitation. Their Prevention Initiative encompasses a customized, train-the-trainer model with curricula for K-12th grade students and interveners (teachers, parents, youth workers, etc.).
Due to quarantines, Sex, Lies & Media training has been transitioned to a virtual format to best meet the immediate needs of teens and parents during the COVID-19 crisis. This online training (available for teens and interveners) helps participants learn to identify the red flags and methods of predators online, know what apps to look out for, and provides practical tips regarding how to talk about this subject as a family and how to action if you suspect "sextorcion" or recruiting attempts from predators online. It also helps participants discover the power of their own voice to speak up against abuse.
Statistics tell us that youth ages 8 to 18 spend anywhere from six to nine hours using technology or are exposed to media each day. One in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before they turn 18. Elizabeth Melendez Fisher Good, CEO & Co-Founder of Selah Way Foundation and Selah Freedom says, "children don't have to become easy prey. Among other things, we teach kids to be extremely cautious when posting on public forums and gaming sites. We help parents and teens to know the power of their voice and empower them to be a part of the solution to end sex trafficking and exploitation." Consider these additional statistics: seventy percent of sex-trafficking victims were advertised online; The average age of a child sold into sexual trafficking is 15 to 17 years of age, however the vast majority of the survivors Selah Freedom serves entered "the life" between 12-14 years old. While the majority of young victims are female, sex trafficking can happen to anyone of any gender and is reported in every state in the country.
Fisher Good adds, "One of the ways sex predators lure kids in, is through the "social media game," one in which youths often secretly engage in conversations with someone they think is part of their peer group. The conversations can lead to exposure to sexual content, with the other party recording them and keeping files to blackmail them if they don't continue to perform sex acts. This is often referred to as "sextorcion," one of the topics taught about in our virtual training. Teenagers often don't know they have been recorded, and even though their parents or an adult may be present in the home, they are reluctant to come forward to them because of the shame, fear and threats of the predator. Bottom line? Exploitation can happen through social media, even with the parent close by. The good news is, we can prevent it," she concludes. In sex trafficking situations, often abusers will flaunt cash and expensive items, things that they will often give their victims. What starts off as an innocent enough exercise in a new relationship will develop into an unhealthy, emotional "grooming" process that later leads to exploitation.
Fisher Good says she has received positive feedback from parents and educators who participated in the course. "We really need these trainings in our schools," said one Manatee/Sarasota County parent. An educator added, "I feel like I can better recognize the signs of a student going through a situation and I didn't realize how close this issue is to our hometowns. I will be sharing this information with friends and loved ones." Parents who complete the Sex, Lies & Media Training will receive an invitation for their kids (6th-12th grade) to attend a free virtual Sex, Lies & Media training created just for them. Sex, Lies & Media Training courses are scheduled on the following dates and require advanced registration:
Thursday, May 21st, 2020 at 5:30 PM Eastern
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Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at 5:30 PM Eastern
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 5:30 PM Eastern
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ABOUT SELAH FREEDOM & THE SELAH WAY FOUNDATION:
Selah Freedom is a nonprofit organization with the mission to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited through four strong programs: Awareness, Prevention, Outreach and Residential. The Selah Way Foundation is a global training network of best practices eradicating sex trafficking and exploitation. The goal of the Selah Way Foundation is to engage a collaborative global training network of highly credentialed HT service providers all focused on three evidence-based initiatives: 1) Prevention, 2) Protection, and 3) Provision. We are creating a shield for the next generation, equipping professionals on the front lines and giving a second chance to survivors of sexual exploitation. Anyone who suspects signs of sex trafficking and victims in need of help can call our intake # at: 1-888-8-FREE-ME (888-837-3363). Visit http://www.TheSelahWay.org or Facebook Selah Freedom.
Media Contact: Andrea Martone, [email protected], (917) 929 - 0527
SOURCE The Selah Way Foundation
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