Why you shouldn't click "Share"

Have ever seen an alarming post about Human Trafficking that made you immediately want to click "share" to let everyone know about it? You want everyone you know to be safe and aware right!?!

Yes. And No.

YES we want everyone we know to be safe and aware.

NO we do not want to share random unchecked posts.

There are a lot of posts out there about Human Trafficking that are sharing information that is just plain NOT TRUE, and harmful to Survivors and potentially others in the area.

Take for example PIZZAGATE.

Rumors were circulating around the internet of a child sex trafficking ring in the basement of a restaurant in Washington, D.C. A concerned citizen was arrested after firing a gun in the restaurant attempting to free the children and bring justice. No child sex trafficking ring was found. Also, the restaurant in question had no basement. :-P

Another example...zip ties around the door handle of your car in a parking lot. There were rumors on social media about women being targeted by traffickers when they were shopping at a store. They would come out and find a zip tie on their handle and while they were looking for something to get the zip tie off, the trafficker would "kidnap" them.

There have been ZERO cases of zip ties being used on cars by traffickers.

Why are these rumors bad? Why shouldn't we share posts like these?

1. They aren't true. We have enough fake news going around right now, let's not add to it!

2. In the pizzagate case there was a very dangerous outcome. Thankfully no one was hurt in that case, but it could have been fatal. Remember, our actions have consequences, however big (like going into the restaurant armed) or small (like sharing a social media post about a sex trafficking ring in the basement of a pizza parlor) they may seem.

3. They instill fear aimed in the wrong direction. Let's not forget that Traffickers are smart...most will not kidnap someone in a parking lot where there are cameras everywhere that will make it easy to find them. In fact, most traffickers do not kidnap those they are going to traffick at all. Instead, they build relationships and trust with the person and eventually trick and manipulate them into trafficking. If we think someone will be trafficked through kidnapping in a store parking lot, we are looking in the wrong place!

4. When people see these posts they call the National Human Trafficking Hotline number because they are concerned. When posts go viral and people call the Hotline, then the Hotline gets clogged and people who REALLY need the Hotline aren't able to call in.

There are more reasons than these, but this gives you 4 reasons to THINK BEFORE YOU SHARE.

What can you do instead?

1. Fact check. Look the rumor up to see if it has been linked to any real human trafficking cases and cross check what you find with other sources. You can use this great resource from Polaris "Human Trafficking Rumors"

2. Share real facts about human trafficking. Share about vulnerabilities and protective factors. Share about what local Task Forces and organizations are doing to prevent Human Trafficking. Share books by Survivor Leaders, like Alice Jay's book "Out of the Darkness".

3. Just don't share it. If it came from your mom's friends sisters auntie...just don't share it. Instead, find a trusted anti-human trafficking organization (like The Gate Way) and share their stuff!

Have any other ideas you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!