It thrives on ignorance and exploits misunderstandings and misconceptions. An important part in tackling this crime is to get the topic talked about. We can’t wait until our kids meet with these predators face to face – it is about stopping these online conversations before they even start.
Kids have a blind trust and unquestioning curiosity when it comes to their online behaviour. They don’t see that their oversharing online is not safe for them.
We need to acknowledge that teens are naturally curious about love, relationships and sex. All we can do is encourage them to go into these situations with their eyes open, particularly when it comes to online grooming. As a result of their inexperience, they’re actually being seduced by online predators. It’s far more complicated than old-fashioned stranger danger, where the signs and solutions are obvious. These kids are actually falling in love, falling for someone and, tragically, sometimes falling into their traps. It’s for real to them, so let’s make the communication real.
We use the horrifying power of real Police Chat Logs between victims and predators to show how easy it is to get caught in their trap.
This campaign was developed in conjunction with a team of young people providing guidance and insights to ensure it was genuine and believable. Their input into the language, the phrasing and the platform was invaluable and helped us create an authentic piece of communication.
These kids are actually falling in love, falling for someone and, tragically, sometimes falling into their traps.
