The purpose of having these conversations with your child is to talk about the dangers that exist, not to scare them, but to educate them.

Talk with your child about:

• What blackmailing is. Blackmailing is when someone makes threats to do something harmful to them or someone they care about. For example, releasing intimate images of them to their family or others if they don’t do what they tell them to do. Another example is a child sending intimate images of themselves to someone they thought was their boyfriend or girlfriend online. That person is not who they portrayed themselves as being, and then that person demands more images or threatens them with consequences. Children then feel like they have no other choice than to do what is asked and hope it stops, because they know they made a mistake and are worried their parents will take away their phones. This has led to children taking their own lives because they see no other way out of the situation. Explain to your child that if someone is trying to blackmail them or someone they know, it’s important that they tell you or another trusted adult. Even if your child feels there is no way out of the situation, emphasize to them that adults can help them find ways to get the blackmailer to stop, and they don’t need to deal with this on their own.
• The importance of listening to their gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. When we give someone too many chances or ignore the voice in our head telling us that this isn’t safe, it can lead to bad outcomes. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Someone offering to take modeling shots of you or saying they are a talent agent could be cause for concern, not excitement.
• It is never too late to ask for help. Regardless of what has already happened, there is no situation where your child can’t ask for help. Children sometimes avoid telling their parents things because they don’t want to be told “I told you so”, have their privileges taken away, make their parents lose trust in their ability to handle situations, or lose their independence. Some parents implement a “no discipline when you ask for help” approach to encourage their children to come to them.
• How to get out of a relationship. This is one area where we probably don’t educate our children as well as we should. Relationships are difficult to navigate at any age, but especially so in our youth. Children may not understand what healthy relationships look like and expect that abuse is normal (see below for more information on abuse). Leaving a relationship where there is violence or control can be incredibly dangerous for the victim of abuse. More information on how to leave abusive relationships can be found in TxSSC Dating Violence Toolkit.
• The signs of an abusive relationship. Young people can be lured into trafficking by their boyfriend or girlfriend, and it may start with abuse. To be clear, abuse is different from trafficking, and not all abuse will lead to trafficking. Examples of abuse in relationships are listed below:
  • Physical violence, such as choking, shaking, slapping, or hitting.
  • Sexual violence, including the use of coercion, manipulation, or force. It can also include unwanted posting of intimate photos online.
  • Psychological violence, including threats or accusations, instilling the belief of unworthiness, restricting contact with others, extreme or obsessive jealousy or insecurity, constant belittling, or control over appearance.
  • Stalking, including driving by house, school, or job, sending repeated texts or calls, damaging property, or monitoring all activities.
  • Financial control, including stealing property, getting a partner fired or written up at work, or preventing a partner from working.
• What to do if they are concerned about a friend. It is not your child’s job to investigate. Investigating can put themselves and their friend at risk. Instead, they need to tell you or another trusted adult. You can utilize the resources listed below and at the end of the toolkit.

Human Trafficking Awareness Parent Guide: Conversation Tips and Topics