The Freedom Café

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Savvy, Safe, Social Campaign

Social media can be used by human traffickers to target and groom victims. There is ongoing debate and tension when it comes to internet privacy and internet safety, however there is plenty we can all do to be Savvy and Safe online and in Social Media.

Be Savvy - Know Warning Signs, Safety Tips and How to Respond
Interacting with people online can get complicated. It’s not always easy to understand what another person is actually thinking. Be aware of warning signs, safety tips, and what to do if you do feel uncomfortable.

Update Your Social Privacy Settings
Many social media apps, such as Facebook, have default settings that put people, especially minors, at risk for being groomed by human traffickers online. If you need help learning how to do this, here’s a page with quick links to the privacy settings pages for common apps, websites, and gaming devices.

Think Beyond Your Post
Be Savvy and a little cautious of what you share knowing that you can’t always control how something you share is being seen—or shared by others.

Have an Exit Plan
If you are uncomfortable with the way someone is talking to you, you can unfriend or block them. You can also report them through the app, if something is getting really sketchy.

Tell Some One You Trust
If you ever feel uncomfortable or think an interaction was not appropriate, tell an adult you trust, a teacher, parent or school counsellor. It’s better to talk to someone about it now, even if it means you have to confess something you did or something that’s difficult to share. If you wait it could become a bigger problem. You can also talk to someone anonymously by calling the CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678.

Dating App Safety Plan
Meeting people online through apps like Tinder and Bumble is super common these days, especially around a college campus! Before meeting someone from the internet in person, it is important to have a plan to protect yourself.

  1. Meet in public

  2. Ask a close friend or trusted person to be in the loop before you meet

    1. Let them know where you are going

    2. When to expect you back

    3. Let them monitor your location during your date

  3. Have a clear exit plan in the event of an uncomfortable situation.

The USafeUS app is a great tool that offers students various resources and methods of protecting themselves against sexual assault. The app can send fake texts or phone calls to give students an excuse to leave a situation, it serves as a simple platform for friends to check in on each other when walking alone, and can connect you to emergency services by the click of a button. Preparation is key to protecting yourself!

A recent article from Seacoast Online (https://amp.seacoastonline.com/amp/5542450001) demonstrate the potential dangers of meeting people online by means of dating apps. The article warns, "When meeting someone from a dating app for the first time, it is best to do so in a public location [...] Alcohol and drugs are often used to perpetrate sexual assault. Be alert to people pressuring others to use alcohol or other drugs. Some sexual offenders target people by using alcohol as a weapon.”

#FreedomCafé #BeSocialBeSafe #SocialMediaSafety #Tinder#Bumble #USafeUS #UNH #EndTrafficking#EndHumanTrafficking #EndSexualAssault #BeTheChange