Ohio County Faces Surge in Child Exploitation Cases as Social Media Gives Predators Greater Access to Children
Law enforcement is increasingly under pressure as child exploitation investigations are becoming more common in Ohio County, Kentucky, and social media and private messaging apps provide new ways for offenders to target children.
Sheriff Adam Wright said the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office has seen 36 child exploitation cases this year, and is considering hiring an additional investigator.
The cases illustrate the potential for seemingly normal online discussions to turn into dangerous situations from a child protection standpoint. Offenders might start off as a child and slowly gain the child’s trust, asking for sexual photos or videos and then threatening or extorting the child to control them.
Additionally, children may be hesitant to ask for assistance. Wright cited a case of a teenager who spent over $10,000 trying to block online threats before finally informing parents.
The sheriff encouraged parents to establish a safe online environment for children by allowing them to report any troubling online interactions without fear of immediate punishment. He also urged parents to be aware of the apps their children are using, with whom they are communicating and if there are any parental controls in place.
The rising number of cases also questions the ability of law enforcement to keep up with the volume of online child exploitation.
The key message for children is that they should not have to deal with online threats on their own. Parents, schools, technology companies and law enforcement all play a role in making online environments safer and helping children get help early when contact is threatening or inappropriate.
