Your child may unknowingly be lured or forced into performing acts that harm them. Forced sex, labor, or a combination of forced acts may result in exploitation and abuse in California. Recognizing the signs of child exploitation can help you protect someone you love and other minors.
Identify Questionable Online Activity
The internet is a prime location for abusers to connect with a child. Monitoring a child’s online activity can provide insight into exploitive actions by online predators. Identifying one or more of these behaviors may be a red flag that online exploiters are targeting your child:
- A child receives messages at inappropriate hours
- Your child’s behavior changes suddenly, particularly after going online
- A child is gifted new technological devices for internet connection
- A minor creates new online accounts that they try to hide
- A child posts sexual images or videos online
- A minor deletes their browser history to cover online activity
The internet is a part of daily life, education, and communication. Frequently monitoring online activity may allow parents or guardians to quickly spot the potential for child exploitation. Recognizing dangerous interactions, like sexual grooming, allows you to take the steps to end exchanges with predators who hope to exploit your child.
Behavioral Signs of Child Exploitation
Not only may a child’s online behavior change, but their behavior in everyday life may also shift from their usual patterns. Behavioral signs that a child may be experiencing exploitation may include the following:
- Withdrawing from friend and family interactions in real life
- The appearance of new toys, clothes, or other items that are unaffordable with an allowance or the amount of money a child should have
- A decline in school performance or a loss of interest in school activities they once enjoyed
- Mood swings or abrupt behavioral changes without an identifiable cause
- Substance abuse or self-harm
- A new fear of going somewhere that was once enjoyable, or a fear of returning home
- Missing school, sneaking out of the home, or time away that cannot be accounted for
- Changes in how a child dresses or becoming more provocative
- Acting in a sexual manner that is inappropriate for a child’s age
- Friendships with older individuals that are unexplainable
Regular communication with a child’s teachers or school staff may help identify behavioral changes others notice outside of your home. Your child may even voice concerns to a trusted adult.
Physical Signs of Child Exploitation
Parents may begin to notice unexplained physical changes in a child. As an adult, you may recognize the physical signs of exploitation of children you teach, coach, or interact with. Physical signs of exploitation may include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries
- Changes in hygiene
- Markings or tattoos from an exploiter
- Changes in appearance
- Noticeable weight loss or malnutrition
- Signs of exhaustion
Children are dynamic and continually changing. Proactively observing and addressing unexplainable changes in a child may help prevent or end a child’s exploitation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offers tools to help identify and report child exploitation. Legal options to hold parties responsible for child exploitation may also be available. Identifying child exploitation in California and getting help are imperative to protecting vulnerable children you care for.