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How Generous Partners Are Helping Saprea Raise Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:28:57 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > How Generous Partners Are Helping Saprea Raise Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

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How Generous Partners Are Helping Saprea Raise Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

At Saprea, we know that awareness is one of the most powerful tools in preventing child sexual abuse. But awareness doesn’t happen on its own. It takes a community of committed partners and donors who are willing to invest in making the unseen visible.

Over the past year, that impact has been made possible through the generosity of our supporters and key partners, including YESCO and RLC Family Foundation.

How Donated Billboard Advertising Supports Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

Through donated and funded billboard advertising, these partners have helped bring Saprea’s message into communities in a bold, public way.

Billboards have the unique ability to reach people where they are—on their daily commutes, in their neighborhoods, and throughout their cities. Because of this generosity, critical messages about prevention, healing, and hope have reached thousands who may not have otherwise encountered them.

This kind of visibility matters. It helps normalize conversations around a difficult topic, encourages individuals to seek help, and empowers communities to take action.

Where Has Saprea’s Billboard Campaign Reached?

Over the last year, the support of donors and partners like YESCO and the RLC Family Foundation has allowed Saprea to significantly expand awareness efforts through billboard campaigns.

These messages have been displayed along I-15 in Utah and surrounding areas and have served as a constant reminder that:

Healing is possible.
Support is available.
Prevention starts with awareness and education.

What began as an act of generosity has grown into a sustained effort to reach more people, more often, with messages that matter.

Why Partnerships Like This Matter

Awareness campaigns at this scale require more than visuals—they require partnership.

By donating billboard spaces and funding these efforts, YESCO and the RLC Family Foundation have played a critical role in helping Saprea extend its reach far beyond traditional channels. Their support ensures that conversations about child sexual abuse are not confined to small spaces but are brought into the public eye, where they can inspire change.

These partnerships demonstrate what’s possible when businesses and philanthropic organizations align their resources with a mission that impacts lives.

Grateful for a Community That Shows Up

To our donors, partners, and supporters: Thank you!

Your generosity is helping create a world where more people are informed, more survivors are supported, and more communities are equipped to prevent sexual abuse.

Because of you, awareness is not limited to a moment—it is sustained throughout the year, reaching individuals and families when they need it most.

How to Support Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

While this past year has been impactful, the need for awareness continues. With the ongoing support of partners like YESCO and the RLC Family Foundation, Saprea will continue to expand its reach and bring critical messages to the community.

Together, we are not just raising awareness; we are building a future where prevention is possible and healing is within reach.

Recent blogs

How Generous Partners Are Helping Saprea Raise Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

Over the past year, Saprea’s donors and partners—including YESCO and the RLC Family Foundation—have made it possible to expand awareness of child sexual abuse through impactful billboard campaigns, reaching communities with messages of prevention, hope, and healing.

Read this article

Conversation Prompts for Parents: Talking About Sensitive Topics

Starting conversations about online safety and sextortion with teens can feel difficult. These practical conversation prompts help parents discuss sensitive topics, recognize red flags, and build trust so young people feel safe asking for help when they need it.

Read this article

Common Platforms Where Sextortion Begins

Sextortion often begins on platforms teens use most, including social media, gaming chats, livestreams, and anonymous messaging apps. Understanding these high-risk spaces and teaching young people to recognize red flags can help parents protect them from online predators.

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The post How Generous Partners Are Helping Saprea Raise Child Sexual Abuse Awareness appeared first on Saprea.

Documentary Roundup: Sexual Abuse & Human Trafficking on Screen

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:11:00 +0000

Sexual abuse and human trafficking are being examined more openly than ever in documentary filmmaking, with a noticeable rise in projects over the past year. What we are seeing is, in many ways, an expansion of the true crime genre — but with a meaningful shift. Audiences are no longer satisfied with the what and the who. They are increasingly asking why this harm occurs and, more importantly, how do we stop it. Those two questions sit at the heart of ATSA's work and the work of our members.

Practical Insight for Prevention-Focused Treatment

1They highlight pathways to offending.

Across different settings, there are recurring patterns such as gradual boundary violations, normalization within peer groups, misuse of authority, and lack of accountability. These patterns can inform risk assessment and intervention strategies.

2They show the role of environments and systems.

Abuse does not occur in isolation. Organizational culture, supervision gaps, and bystander inaction are often part of the picture. This reinforces the importance of addressing not just individual behavior, but context.

3They demonstrate missed opportunities.

Many cases include earlier warning signs that were overlooked. Understanding these moments can help shape earlier intervention and relapse prevention planning.

4They reflect increasing public awareness.

As these stories become more visible, individuals in treatment may be influenced by them. This can create openings for discussion around accountability, empathy, and the real-world impact of harm.

⚠Content Advisory: Many of these documentaries include sensitive material and may be difficult to watch. Reader and viewer discretion is advised.

Recent & Notable Documentaries

2026

TRUST ME
The False Prophet

Netflix

A cult expert and her filmmaker husband infiltrate the inner circle of Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed FLDS prophet who took multiple "wives" — including underage girls — and orchestrated abuse to consolidate control. Focused on coercion, manipulation, and abuse within a religious group, including how power and control are established and maintained.

2026

KEEP QUIET
AND FORGIVE

PBS · Independent Lens

Lizzie, a former Minnesotan Amish woman, breaks decades of silence about her sexual assault and reports her case to police, sparking a nationwide movement of Amish and Mennonite survivors. Highlights how cultural and religious expectations to "forgive and forget" can function as system-level barriers to disclosure, accountability, and prevention.

2025

SEAN COMBS
The Reckoning

Netflix

A four-part docuseries, executive produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, that traces the rise and fall of Sean "Diddy" Combs through interviews and exclusive footage tied to the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Useful for examining how celebrity, wealth, and inner-circle loyalty can shield long-running coercive behavior, and how survivor accounts surface only after a power structure begins to crack.

2025

PREDATORS

Paramount+

Director David Osit revisits Dateline's To Catch a Predator, tracing the people who made it, the men it captured, and the ethical fallout of turning real-life trauma into spectacle. Examines media-driven approaches to confronting offenders and raises questions about deterrence, public exposure, and behavior change.

2025

NUNS vs THE VATICAN

Video-on-Demand

A group of Catholic nuns — including former Sister Gloria Branciani — publicly accuse priests, including Father Marko Rupnik, of sexual and spiritual abuse and confront the Vatican's hidden patterns of cover-up. Explores abuse within a closed system and the role of authority, secrecy, and institutional response.

*Trailer unavailable

2025

BAD INFLUENCE
The Dark Side of Kidfluencing

Netflix

A three-part investigation in which former members of YouTuber Piper Rockelle's "Squad," along with their parents, detail accounts of exploitation and abuse by her manager-mother, Tiffany Smith. Useful for understanding emerging digital pathways to grooming and the unregulated environments that enable harm, including the increasingly blurred line between parent and producer.

2025

GROOMED
A National Scandal

Channel 4

Filmmaker Anna Hall draws on two decades of investigative work on UK gang grooming, as five women share on-camera accounts of grooming, rape, and exploitation — and the police and social services failures that allowed it to continue. Directly relevant to grooming dynamics, missed warning signs, and the institutional response gaps that allow harm to continue.

*Trailer available only in the UK

2024

QUIET ON SET
The Dark Side of Kids TV

Max · Discovery+

A docuseries examining the working environment behind several Nickelodeon shows of the late 1990s and 2000s, with first-hand accounts from cast and crew about misconduct, exploitation, and on-set abuse. Includes accounts of misconduct, boundary violations, and organizational blind spots that allowed harm to occur.

2024

BLACK BOX DIARIES

Limited Theatrical · Festivals

Japanese journalist Shiori Ito documents her own multi-year investigation and prosecution of a prominent broadcaster who sexually assaulted her, blending vérité footage, secret recordings, and first-person video. Highlights systemic barriers to accountability and the social dynamics that can discourage reporting.

2024

BURNING SUN
Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Groups

BBC Platforms

A BBC Eye investigation into how prominent K-pop stars used private group chats to share evidence of sexual crimes, and the journalists who pushed the story into public view despite industry retaliation. Offers insight into group dynamics and the normalization of harm within a large-scale exploitation, trafficking, and coordinated abuse scandal.

2024

THE PROGRAM
Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping

Netflix

Director Katherine Kubler reunites with former classmates from Academy at Ivy Ridge, a "behavior modification" facility marketed as a boarding school, to expose the abusive practices of the troubled-teen industry. Highlights closed-system dynamics, supervision failures, and the long-term impact of unregulated youth-treatment environments.

2023

GREAT PHOTO,
LOVELY LIFE

HBO · Max

Photojournalist Amanda Mustard spends eight years investigating decades of sexual abuse committed by her grandfather, a trusted local chiropractor, weaving family interviews and archival home video into the inquiry. Offers insight into intra-familial dynamics, intergenerational impact, and how community standing can shield long-running offending behavior.

RECENT

TRAFFICKED
with Mariana van Zeller

Nat Geo · Hulu · Disney+

Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller embeds with operators inside global black markets — including human trafficking and sexual exploitation networks — to trace how illicit ecosystems function from the inside. Includes reporting on trafficking networks and the broader ecosystems that support exploitation.

Common Platforms Where Sextortion Begins

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:34:37 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Common Platforms Where Sextortion Begins

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Common Platforms Where Sextortion Begins

Today’s young people connect, play, and socialize across dozens of digital platforms—often moving seamlessly between social media, gaming, messaging apps, and livestreams. While these spaces can offer creativity and connection, they also create opportunities for criminals who exploit trust and curiosity. Sextortion frequently begins with a seemingly harmless message, friend request, or gaming conversation. By understanding where these schemes commonly start and how perpetrators operate across platforms, parents can better recognize the risks and help their teens navigate online spaces with greater awareness and safety.

Where Sextortion Conversations Often Begin

Sextortion rarely starts with an obvious threat. More often, it begins in everyday digital spaces where young people already spend their time—social media feeds, gaming chats, livestream comment sections, or messaging apps. Perpetrators intentionally seek out platforms that make it easy to connect with strangers, build quick rapport, and move conversations into private messages. Understanding how these environments work—and why they appeal to criminals—can help parents recognize where risks are more likely to emerge and guide their teens in navigating these spaces more safely.

Social Media Platforms with Direct Messaging

Social media represents one of the most common starting points for sextortion schemes. Perpetrators create fake online accounts with stolen photos, build followers to seem legitimate, then send direct messages to potential victims. The platform's visual nature makes it easy for perpetrators to find young people through hashtags, location tags, and suggested accounts. They comment on public posts to establish familiarity before moving to private messages. Adult perpetrators use trending media and references to seem relatable to young people.

Gaming Platforms and Chat Features

Gaming environments have become major vectors for sextortion targeting teenage boys specifically.¹ Messaging servers, originally designed for gamers to communicate during play, often include thousands of strangers in chat rooms. Criminals join these servers, identify young users through their voices or comments about school, then send private messages. Many games include chat features where strangers can communicate. While these platforms have some safety features, determined perpetrators find ways around them, especially when young people use third-party communication apps alongside gaming and some messaging systems connect players globally. Criminals can befriend young gamers through cooperative play, then introduce personal conversation and eventually sexual content.²

Livestreaming and Video Features

Some sites and platforms have video chat sites that directly connect strangers for video conversations. These platforms are designed for anonymous interactions and have minimal safety protections, making them extremely high-risk for young people. Twitch and YouTube Gaming allow viewers to message streamers directly. Young people who stream themselves gaming may receive messages from seemingly friendly viewers who want to "talk more privately." Instagram Live, TikTok Live, and Facebook Live features let young people broadcast to audiences, including strangers. Sextortion perpetrators watch these streams, learn about victims, then contact them privately after the stream ends.

Anonymous Messaging and Encrypted Apps

Criminals typically move conversations to these platforms after initial contact elsewhere. Some of these apps have been repeatedly identified in law enforcement agency reports as a platform used in child sexual exploitation. When an app has anonymity features, like when no phone number is required to register, it makes it attractive to perpetrators to use to exploit.

Dating and "Meet New People" Apps

While most have age restrictions, young people can lie about their age to access them. Tinder, Bumble, and similar apps are used by perpetrators specifically seeking young victims. Some teens use these apps out of curiosity or to seek romantic relationships. Similar apps marketed as "social discovery" for teens create opportunities for adults to pose as peers. Despite verification attempts, fake online accounts proliferate on these platforms.

What Makes These Platforms Risky

Several features consistently appear across high-risk platforms. Direct messaging with strangers is the primary risk factor—any platform allowing private communication between people who don't know each other in real life creates an opportunity for manipulation. Photo and video sharing capabilities let perpetrators send explicit images to normalize sexual content and allow victims to send the sensitive material that becomes leverage. Moving between platforms enables criminals to isolate victims from oversight and create the secrecy needed for sexual exploitation. Live video features provide opportunities for real-time recording of sexual content. Anonymity and account creation ease means perpetrators can create multiple fake online accounts without verification.

The Platform Is Less Important Than the Pattern

While these platforms see frequent sextortion cases, the specific platform matters less than the behavior pattern. Criminals adapt to whatever platforms young people use. When one platform improves safety features, perpetrators simply move to another. This is why teaching young people to recognize manipulation tactics proves more effective than trying to ban specific apps. The red flags—strangers who contact you out of nowhere, conversations that turn sexual quickly, pressure to move to private messaging apps, requests for explicit images—remain consistent regardless of where the initial contact occurs.

In 2026, there are a number of platforms commonly used by online blackmailers in sextortion activities in targeting young people.

Platform Type

Examples Include:

Mainstream Social Media Apps

Instagram, Snapchat

Emerging Teen Social Apps

Wizz, Hoop, Yubo

Anonymous / Semi Anonymous Apps

Whisper, ASK.fm, Skout

Messaging Platforms

Discord, WhatsApp, Kik, Telegram

Gaming Platforms

Roblox, generalized gaming chats

Video / Content / Streaming Platforms

TikTok, YouTube, LiveMe

Dating Apps

Grindr, Tinder, Bumble

Parents don't need to become experts on every social media account and gaming platform. Instead, focus on these principles: know what platforms your teen uses, understand the basic features and risks of each, maintain open communication about who they're talking to online, and ensure privacy settings are maximized. The goal isn't to prevent all online social interaction but to help young people navigate these spaces safely while recognizing the red flags of sexual extortion.

Recognizing Sextortion Red Flags—No Matter the Platform

Although certain apps and platforms appear more frequently in sextortion cases, the real danger lies in the patterns of manipulation that perpetrators use. Criminals will always follow young people to whatever platforms are popular, which is why awareness matters more than banning specific apps. Teaching teens to recognize red flags—such as strangers initiating private conversations, requests to move to another app, or pressure to share personal images—helps them stay safer no matter where they are online. With open communication, strong privacy settings, and ongoing conversations about digital boundaries, parents can empower their children to enjoy online spaces while recognizing and avoiding the tactics used in sexual extortion.

For more information about how to protect the children in your life from sexual abuse, we invite you to explore Saprea’s sexual abuse prevention resources.

Thorn. (2024, June 24). New research from Thorn: Financial sextortion on the rise, targeting teen boys. Thorn. https://www.thorn.org/blog/new-research-from-thorn-financial-sextortion-on-the-rise-targeting-teen-boys/
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2021, June 29). It’s not a game: Predators target children online. FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/newyork/news/its-not-a-game-predators-target-children-online-062921

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The post Common Platforms Where Sextortion Begins appeared first on Saprea.

Conversation Prompts for Parents: Talking About Sensitive Topics

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:44:59 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Conversation Prompts for Parents: Talking About Sensitive Topics

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Conversation Prompts for Parents: Talking About Sensitive Topics

Talking with teens about sensitive topics like online safety and sextortion can feel uncomfortable, but these conversations are an important part of helping them navigate today’s digital world. Many parents worry about saying the wrong thing or overwhelming their teen with warnings. In reality, short, supportive conversations often work better than long lectures. Using simple prompts and everyday moments to check in can help teens recognize risks, understand healthy boundaries, and feel safe coming to you if something goes wrong online.

Here are practical conversation prompts that you as a parent (or caregiver) can use to open discussions about these sensitive topics in supportive ways.

Starting the Conversation About Online Safety

Rather than beginning with warnings or rules, start with curiosity and openness. Try asking: "What apps and social media accounts are you using these days? Can you show me how they work?" This question demonstrates interest without judgment and gives you valuable information about their digital world. Follow up with: "Who do you usually talk to on there? Friends from school or other people too?" This helps you understand their online social network without seeming accusatory.

Another effective opener uses current events: "I saw a news story about teens being targeted by others online. Have you heard anything about that happening at your school or with people you know?" This approach makes the topic concrete and relevant while creating space for your teen to share concerns without feeling like they're in trouble.

Introducing the Topic of Sextortion Without Fear

Saprea recommends little talks instead of lengthy talks. Try this approach: "Hey, I learned something concerning and want to check in with you. Have you ever had someone online ask you for pictures of yourself, especially explicit images? If that happens, I want you to know you can always tell me and you won't be in trouble." The explicit statement that they won't face punishment is crucial.

You might also ask: "If someone you met online started making you uncomfortable or asked for sexual content, what would you do? Who would you tell?" This prompt helps you understand their current plan and allows you to clarify that you want to be their first resource. It also reveals whether they understand the available support services.

Discussing Red Flags and Warning Signs

Use "what if" scenarios to explore situations without accusing your teen of anything. Try: "What would you think if someone you just met online said they felt really connected to you and wanted to video chat privately right away?" Let them respond, then discuss why that's a red flag—healthy relationships build gradually, and pressure to move fast or get private is a warning sign of manipulation.

Another scenario: "Imagine someone online offers you gift cards or money for photos. What do you think is really going on there?" This opens discussion about scammers who target others specifically with financial sextortion schemes. You can explain that legitimate people never offer payment for images, and this is always a setup for online blackmail or other potential exploitation.

Building Trust

Perhaps the most important conversation establishes what happens if they make a mistake or face victimization. Say directly: "I need you to know something important. If you ever send someone an explicit image and they threaten you, or if you get into any kind of trouble online, please come to me immediately. You will not be punished. I will not take away your phone or get angry. We will handle it together, and the person threatening you is the one who is breaking the law."

You can add: "Even if it starts on an app you're not supposed to be on, or if you made choices you regret, you can still tell me. My job is to protect you and get you help, not to punish you." This message directly addresses the shame that prevents disclosure in 81% of cases.¹

Checking Understanding of Consent and Pressure

Discuss the difference between freely choosing and being pressured. Ask: "How would you know if someone was pressuring you versus you actually wanting to do something online?" This helps young people recognize coercion. Follow with: "You know that you never owe anyone explicit images, right? Not even if you've been dating, not if they sent you pictures first, not if you said yes before. You can always change your mind."

For context on relationships, try: "In healthy relationships, whether online or in person, how do people treat each other? What should never be okay?" Let them answer, then emphasize: "Healthy partners never pressure you for sexual content, never threaten you, and never share your private photos without permission."

Addressing Privacy and Security

Rather than demanding access to everything, discuss why privacy settings matter, and work together to protect privacy. Ask: "Who can see your posts and profile right now—just friends, or anyone? Do strangers message you?" Then explain: "Keeping your social media accounts private makes you safer because criminals look for young people with public profiles. Can we check your settings together?"

On passwords and monitoring, try: "I'd like to know your passwords not because I don't trust you, but so if something goes wrong or you need help, I can access your accounts to fix it. Does that make sense?" Frame monitoring as collaborative online safety rather than distrust.

When You Suspect Something Is Wrong

If your teen seems withdrawn, anxious, or is hiding their phone more than usual, approach with concern not accusation. Say: "I've noticed you seem stressed lately. Is everything okay online and at school? Sometimes people struggle with things they're afraid to talk about." Give space for them to respond without pushing.

If you have specific concerns about sextortion or online blackmail, be direct but supportive: "I'm worried something might be wrong. If someone online is making you uncomfortable, threatening you, or has pictures they're using to pressure you, we can fix this together. You're not in trouble with me—I just want to help." Then be quiet and give them time to answer.

Following Up Regularly

These conversations shouldn't happen just once. Brief check-ins work well: "Anything weird happen online this week?" Or: "Remember what we talked about before—about people online who pressure teens for pictures? That offer still stands to come to me if anything like that happens." Regular, casual mention keeps the topic present without being overwhelming.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Digital Interactions:
Teaching Teens the Difference

Understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy digital interactions can help teens navigate online spaces with greater confidence. While many online friendships and conversations are positive, some people use manipulation, pressure, or secrecy to gain trust and exploit others. By talking with teens about the common traits of healthy relationships—such as respect for boundaries, transparency, and mutual comfort—parents can help them recognize warning signs early and make safer decisions online.

Healthy Interactions

Unhealthy Interactions

Healthy Online Friendships Start Slowly

Unhealthy Interactions Move Too Fast

Healthy Interactions Respect Privacy and Boundaries

Unhealthy Interactions Involve Pressure and Manipulation

Healthy Digital Friends Can Be Verified

Unhealthy Contacts Hide Their Real Identity

Healthy Relationships Feel Comfortable and Safe

Unhealthy Relationships Create Anxiety and Fear

Teaching young people these distinctions give them the framework to evaluate online interactions themselves. When teens understand what healthy looks like, they're better equipped to recognize the manipulation tactics of sexual extortion before becoming victims. Parents should discuss these differences regularly, using real examples from news stories or hypothetical scenarios to reinforce the concepts.

Practical Prompts and Supportive Conversation

Talking with teens about online safety and sextortion doesn’t have to be intimidating. By using practical prompts, real-life scenarios, and open, supportive conversations, parents can help their teens recognize red flags, understand healthy digital relationships, and feel safe seeking guidance. Regular check-ins build trust and empower teens to navigate online spaces confidently.

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What is Online Grooming? Understanding Grooming in the Digital Age

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:49:00 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > What is Online Grooming? Understanding Grooming in the Digital Age

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What is Online Grooming? Understanding Grooming in the Digital Age

With technology becoming increasingly more accessible, there has been an increase in online grooming. Much like grooming that occurs in-person, online grooming is the technology-facilitated process of befriending a child or teen for the purpose of sexual abuse and exploitation. While some online perpetrators may know the child they are talking to, more often, sexual perpetrators are exploiting the anonymity and accessibility of online platforms to reach potential victims. Unlike in-person grooming, which can occur over weeks, months or even years, online grooming can happen very quickly, even in a matter of hours. When working online, they don’t need to influence adults and control the environment around the child; this potentially makes it easier to establish trust and build the child up more quickly toward sexual discussions or sexual contact.

How Groomers Operate Online Through Social Media and Digital Platforms

Online grooming isn’t limited to obscure corners of the internet; in fact, it often takes place on well-known platforms such as social media, messaging apps, and online games. Using fake profiles, groomers may pretend to be another child or a peer with shared interests, making it easier to gain the victim’s trust. They may even use multiple online platforms to contact the same child. They can spend time learning about the child or teen’s interests from their online profiles and use that information to help them build trust and establish a special relationship. As the online relationship develops, the perpetrator may ask for personal information or encourage private chats, video calls, and secretive behavior. Eventually, they manipulate or coerce the child into sending explicit photos or videos. In many cases, the offender uses this material to blackmail the child into further sexual acts (a form of abuse known as sextortion.)

The tactics used in online grooming are calculated and manipulative. Groomers can maintain frequent or constant contact, intensifying their control and making it difficult for the child to disengage. Some even resort to cyberstalking, using technology to monitor or harass their victims. Understanding these grooming behaviors of perpetrators helps caregivers and other adults to recognize signs of grooming early and protect children and teens from abusers online.

Online Grooming Red Flags and Warning Signs

Many parents may feel like they don’t know what to look for when trying to catch online grooming early. Luckily, if a parent can spot traditional grooming behaviors, they will likely be able to catch online grooming behaviors. One nonprofit, Bravehearts¹, nicely outlines seven warning signs and red flags to pay attention to:

Asking personal questions too soon

The person is asking your child a lot of questions about personal information (such as their age, school, location, home life etc.) soon after meeting them online. This rapid questioning is a common grooming behavior used to assess the child’s vulnerability to build a close relationship quickly.

Asking for favors and building trust

The person starts asking your child for favors and does favors for them in return – abusers often use promises, gifts and favors to gain trust. This exchange creates a sense of obligation and is part of the grooming process designed to establish special attention and emotional dependence.

Keeping the 'relationship' secret

Online groomers typically try to keep their relationships extremely private and secret from the beginning, asking for it to be something ‘special’ just between them. Perpetrators thrive when caregivers and family members are unaware of their contact with the child.

Frequent and varied contact

The person contacts your child frequently and in different ways, like texting, on social media apps and through online chats or asking them to move their chat onto another platform that has end-to-end encryption.

Questions about device access

The person asks your child things like who else uses their device or computer, or which room they use it in. These questions help groomers assess how much privacy they have to escalate grooming behaviors without detection by parents or caregivers.

Gives compliments and tests boundaries

The person compliments your child on their appearance or body and/or tests their boundaries by asking things like, ‘Have you ever been kissed?,’ ‘Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?,’ and the like. Boundary testing and comments about physical appearance are examples of grooming tactics that target a child’s self-esteem and introduce sexual topics gradually. This is a form of desensitizing the child to sexual content and behavior.

Wants to meet in-person

Groomers may insist on meeting with the child and try to make them feel guilty or even threaten them if they are unwilling. Note: not all groomers will attempt to meet in person if their aim is to get sexual images or videos of children (known child sexual abuse material (CSAM)).

How to Protect Children From Online Dangers

As with all types of child sexual abuse, online grooming can have devastating effects on a child's mental health, self-esteem, and safety. The best defense is education—teaching children to recognize red flags, avoid sharing personal information or images, and to feel safe speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. Parents and caregivers should stay informed about the platforms their children use, maintain open and supportive communication, and be aware of changes in their child’s mood or behavior.

Online grooming may take place in the digital world, but its impacts are very real. Through awareness, education, and open dialogue, we can better protect children and young people from these serious threats.

If you suspect your child is being groomed or has experienced child sexual abuse, contact law enforcement or child protection services immediately. For more information about how to best support your child, visit our page about preventing child sexual abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Online Grooming

Online grooming can be complex and difficult to recognize, which often leaves parents and caregivers with many questions about how it happens and what to do if they suspect it. Below are some of the most common questions about online grooming—what it is, how to identify the warning signs, and steps you can take to help keep children safe while using digital platforms.

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What Stops Children from Reporting Grooming: Understanding Barriers to Disclosure

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:00:53 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > What Stops Children from Reporting Grooming: Understanding Barriers to Disclosure

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What Stops Children from Reporting Grooming: Understanding Barriers to Disclosure

One of the primary reasons children and teens do not tell an adult about their experience being groomed is because they don’t realize they’re being groomed. A grooming relationship often starts out appearing safe and positive. By the time the relationship becomes uncomfortable, frightening, and/or isolating, many children feel confused and unsure about how to react or who to trust. Recognizing warning signs of grooming behaviors early can help caregivers intervene before children feel trapped in silence.

According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)¹, children may not speak up for a number of reasons. For instance, children and teens may be:

Ashamed.
Feeling guilty for inappropriate sexual activities they participated in.
Believe they are in a romantic relationship with their groomer.
Embarrassed to share sexual details with other people.
Nervous to get the person grooming them in trouble.
Scared of what the groomer will do if they speak out or refuse to comply.

Understanding barriers to children reporting grooming is vital to helping children feel safe and supported. Parents and other caregivers need to create open, non-judgmental environments where kids feel comfortable sharing anything—no matter how confusing or difficult it may seem.

What If My Child Thinks They’re in a Romantic Relationship with Their Abuser

Sometimes, groomers use manipulative and emotionally coercive tactics to convince children and teens that they are in a consensual romantic relationship. They may shower them with attention, affection, gifts, or praise as part of the grooming process in order to build trust and emotional dependence. Over time, this manipulation can blur the lines between affection and abuse, making it incredibly difficult for young people to recognize what’s happening.

Why Children Can’t Consent to a Relationship with an Adult

Saprea firmly denounces the notion that children can consent to relationships with adults. Legally and developmentally, minors are not capable of giving informed consent—especially in the context of a power imbalance where an adult is deliberately exploiting their trust and vulnerability. Adults in a position of power who engage in grooming behaviors are abusers, regardless of how they frame the relationship.

How Groomers Manipulate Feelings of Attachment and Guilt

Children may feel afraid to speak up or resist because they don’t want to “ruin” what they’ve been told is a special or secret relationship. Some may fear losing the emotional connection they've built with the groomer, even if it has become abusive. Others may feel ashamed, confused, or blame themselves for getting involved, making it even harder to seek help. The groomer’s manipulation of the child’s self-esteem and vulnerability makes disclosure even more difficult.

It’s also common for victims to feel they have no choice—that saying "no" isn’t an option. Even when they are deeply uncomfortable or hurt by what they’ve been asked to do, they may believe they’re responsible for maintaining the relationship, or worry that speaking out will lead to punishment, rejection, or harm.

How Parents and Caregivers Can Help

The most important thing for parents and caregivers to remember is this: your child is not to blame. Open, non-judgmental conversations and professional support can make all the difference in helping them break free from this manipulation and begin to heal.

Moving From Isolation to Integration

Isolation is one of the most powerful tactics used in grooming, as groomers systematically distance children from their support networks to maintain control and secrecy. Research on child sexual abuse recovery demonstrates that structured reintegration approaches—including family assessments, gradual transitions, and sustained aftercare—are essential for helping children rebuild healthy connections. Parents play a critical role in this process by actively working to restore their child's access to safe, supportive relationships. This means:

facilitating regular contact with trusted family members,
encouraging age-appropriate friendships, and
creating opportunities for children to participate in activities where they feel valued and connected.

Maintaining open, non-judgmental communication is one of the most powerful protective factors parents can provide as their child transitions away from an exploitative situation.

Studies examining reintegration strategies emphasize that social support networks are fundamental to trauma recovery, and building these networks takes intentional effort and time. Parents should collaborate with mental health professionals who specialize in childhood trauma to develop a comprehensive support plan tailored to their child's specific needs. Professional involvement may be vital throughout the reintegration process, helping families navigate the complex emotional terrain while prioritizing the child's safety and well-being.

Remember that reintegration is gradual—there is no set timeline for healing. Focus on small, consistent steps that help your child feel safe, heard, and supported as they rediscover what healthy relationships look and feel like. Your patience, presence, and unwavering belief in your child's resilience will make all the difference in their recovery journey.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Grooming and Disclosure

Grooming can be difficult for children to recognize, as it often begins as a relationship that seems caring or harmless. Feelings of fear, guilt, or confusion can prevent them from speaking up. This FAQ explores why children may stay silent, how to spot warning signs, and how caregivers can respond with understanding and support.

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What Stops Children from Reporting Grooming: Understanding Barriers to Disclosure

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The post What Stops Children from Reporting Grooming: Understanding Barriers to Disclosure appeared first on Saprea.

Call for Letters of Intent: Special Issue on What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:44:00 +0000

By Joan Tabachnick

We are excited to share an important opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of sexual abuse prevention. Sexual Abuse is now inviting submissions for a special issue on “What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?”

This issue, guest edited by Kieran McCartan, Ryan T. Shields, and Joan Tabachnick, will shine a spotlight on primary perpetration prevention—programs, policies, and practices designed to stop sexual abuse before anyone is harmed.

Join the Conversation

By bringing together evidence, practice, and innovation, this special issue aims to build a stronger foundation to answer the vital question: What truly works to prevent the perpetration of sexual abuse?

We invite researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world to contribute to this conversation by submitting a Letter of Intent by September 25, 2025.

👉 For submission details, deadlines, and guidelines visit: atsa.com/callforpapers

Why This Special Issue Matters

Preventing the perpetration of sexual abuse is one of the most critical yet challenging areas of work. Unlike treatment or response strategies, primary prevention often requires proving that “something didn’t happen”—an outcome that can be difficult to measure.

Yet across the globe, innovative programs, interventions, and policies are being developed to reduce risk, strengthen protective factors, and create safer communities. This special issue seeks to bring those successes, research, evaluations, and innovations together in one place to help shape the future of perpetration prevention efforts.

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions that critically examine and expand our understanding of primary perpetration prevention, including but not limited to:

Evidence of success in primary perpetration prevention programs, including meaningful outcome measures.
Lessons learned from past prevention efforts—and how they can guide the future.
Risk and protective factors for first-time perpetration of sexual abuse.
The role of public messaging, policy, and science in prevention.
Implementation challenges: overcoming politics, stigma, and sustainability issues.
Global perspectives: cultural and regional insights that broaden the scope of prevention.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Aniss Benelmouffok, Managing Editor of Sexual Abuse: aniss@atsa.com

Together, we can deepen the science of prevention, learn from one another, and build safer futures for individuals, families, and communities worldwide.

Framing Prevention Through an Anti-Memetic Lens

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:11:00 +0000

by Aniss Benelmouffok

In Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading, Nadia Asparouhova explores why cultural ideas fail to spread. Much of the resistance to spreading, “immunity” as Asparouhova puts it, is due to the uncomfortable nature of antimemetic subjects. Reading the book, I couldn't help but see efforts to prevent sexual abuse through an antimemetic lens.

To frame these ideas, she draws on two concepts:

• Memes and Memeplexes: Coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976, “memes” are self-replicating cultural units that spread and evolve like genes. Memeplexes—like religions and political ideologies—are networks of related memes.
• Mimetic Desire: Introduced by René Girard, this concept suggests we desire what others desire, emulating “models” in our social spheres. This can lead to rivalry and scapegoating.

Asparouhova proposes that if we take these two concepts as "canon," we can see how the internet has poured fuel on them. "Rather than ushering in an era of global peace, the internet made us leap at each other's throats," she says.  

What Are Anti-Memes?

Anti-memes are cultural ideas that resist spreading—often because they disrupt social harmony. Asparouhova writes, “Networks have a strong built-in immunity to anti-memes,” noting that these ideas tend to be suppressed because of their disruptive power.

Prevention—especially when it comes to sexual violence—is inherently antimemetic. Like disaster preparedness or gun violence prevention, it rarely garners sustained public or political support unless a recent tragedy has captured public attention. ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention offers a structured approach to breaking through this “immunity” and reshaping how we talk about sexual harm.

Asparouhova herself points to how prevention is deprioritized in public discourse and policy. Consider how media attention surges and fades after mass shootings—or how funding for disaster preparedness lags until catastrophe strikes. Prevention doesn’t spread easily because it requires uncomfortable conversations and long-term thinking—both of which challenge the fast-paced, reactive nature of contemporary communications.

The same is true for conversations about treating individuals who have caused sexual harm. These conversations demand we acknowledge the harm sexual abuse has caused, to consider the harm that may occur, and requires frameworks grounded in science that address its prevalence in our communities.

ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention

ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention is a guide for turning anti-memetic ideas into meaningful conversations. It encourages professionals to lead with values—to explain why they work with people who have sexually harmed others or are at risk to. It provides structure for conversations that highlight our shared goal: ending sexual violence.

Although designed for ATSA members, this roadmap is for anyone ready to talk about prevention with nuance and purpose. It:
• Emphasizes collaboration with individuals affected by trauma
• Draws on decades of clinical research and evidence-based practice
• Makes prevention the focal point of our work—not an afterthought

Why We Need Champions

So how do anti-memes break through? Asparouhova’s answer: Champions. These are people who know how to navigate complex systems and bring difficult ideas into broader conversations. Champions help anti-memes find traction beyond their niche communities.

She writes:
“But to the right champion, even the most labyrinthine system feels like an invitation to create something extraordinary... You will know it when looking at the problem makes your heart expand with possibilities, rather than shrink away.”

If you’re reading this, you might be that champion. Because prevention faces many challenges —we need people willing to carry the message.

A Final Note

The ideas in the roadmap aren’t always easy to share. They’re disruptive. They challenge deeply held beliefs. They’re anti-memes. But they also carry the potential to transform lives and communities.

This year, we've been highlighting Changemakers within the ATSA community. Members who have embraced the challenge of sharing the message of sexual abuse treatment and prevention to transform their communities. I hope you'll join them in sharing these ideas with conviction, even when they're difficult to express. ATSA has your back with evidence-based resources and professional media support when needed—that's how change begins.

Child Sexual Abuse – Turning Statistics into Action and Protecting Kids

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Mon, 19 May 2025 22:16:00 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Child Sexual Abuse – Turning Statistics into Action and Protecting Kids

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Child Sexual Abuse – Turning Statistics into Action and Protecting Kids

Stats are sterile. We are inundated with so much data that we have become numb to their message – that is, until that stat becomes representative of someone we know and love.

Ten years ago, this happened to me. I started working in the social sector, combatting child sexual abuse. Almost immediately, people in my extended family, my neighborhood, my faith community, co-workers, old friends I had not seen in years, and even acquaintances started sharing their experiences as survivors of child sexual abuse.

I'll never forget the emotions that came to me as I heard their stories. First, a humbling wave of gratitude that they trusted me with something so deeply personal. Second, a crushing realization of my own ignorance—how could so many people I cherish have endured such trauma? These weren't distant acquaintances either. Some of them were people I've loved for years, people I consider close. The question haunted me: how had I remained blind to their suffering all this time?

At this time, the stats transformed from sterile numbers to deeply impactful stories. They represented real people, my people. Predictably, I have seen this same pattern repeat over and over with anyone willing to talk openly about child sexual abuse.

The Reality of Child Sexual Abuse Stats

At the risk of providing you with yet another set of figures to remember, let me briefly share the stats of child sexual abuse. UNICEF estimates that one in eight children worldwide are sexually abused.¹ The CDC agrees when they report on prevalence in the United States. Citing credible research, the CDC says one in four girls and one in twenty boys will be sexually abused by age eighteen. These numbers are staggering and alarming. However, most research on prevalence narrowly defines child sexual abuse to include some physical touch. Yet, as technology-facilitated abuse has accelerated, we are starting to learn that the rates are much higher. A worldwide leader in prevalence research, Dr. David Finkelhor worked with colleagues to explain prevalence with technology-facilitated abuse added to the rates. We learn that numbers increase significantly to 10.8% of boys, 31.6% of girls, and 41.3% of those identifying as other genders.²

The Power of Survivor Stories

Like many of you, the stats of sexual abuse had never sunk in before all my loved ones shared their experiences, but then and now, these figures scream at me. I can no longer look the other way. I can’t discount the discomfort by saying the research must be wrong or that the research responses must have come from somewhere else and someone else. It was my family, my neighbors, my coworkers sharing their stories. What are we doing as a civilized society? How is it possible that we are not moving heaven and earth to stop this now?

I remember feeling very angry, as I took time to process the accounts of abuse shared with me. Angry at those that harm. Angry at those of us who look away. Angry at a society that decided the topic was too taboo to discuss. One thing about the emotion of anger is that it can be an excellent catalyst for change. We can do great things when we channel our anger into productive action.

Over the past ten years, I have worked to make a change. The impact has been measurable and significant, but compared to the size of the problem, we are just barely moving the needle. There is still so much to be done, and we must invoke a societal shift to see broad change.

Learning from historical, social movements, we see patterns of how big social issues like abuse shift. We’ve seen it in the civil rights movement, smoking cessation, and car seat safety. Following those patterns, we know that societal change happens when there is top-down and bottom-up pressure—without either one, change stalls. Think of top-down pressure like laws, enforcement of laws, awareness campaigns, or organized activism. Consider bottom-up pressure as neighborhood dialogue, organic media, and grassroots activism. Since most who read this article are part of that bottom-up movement, let’s highlight three ways to take action now.

How to Take Action Today

Start talking about the issue with those you love

Do what I did ten years ago—start talking about the issue of sexual abuse with those you love. The stats will become real for you just like they did for me, but more importantly, you will be instrumental in breaking down the taboo of the issue. Every honest discussion chips away at the stigma and makes change possible. No society has solved a problem without first discussing and naming it.

Educate Yourself on the Impacts and How to Reduce the Risk

Educate yourself on the long-term impacts of abuse on survivors as well as how to reduce risk for today’s kids. The organization I work for, Saprea, has tremendous resources, and so do many others.

Commit to Change

From your learning, choose and change one behavior when interacting with your kids. I recommend focusing on age-appropriate conversations about healthy boundaries, but you may pick something else. The key is to begin with personal change. Societal change happens because individuals commit to changing themselves first.

We have solved significant issues as a country and world. We can do it with sexual abuse as well. Don’t let sterile stats be your only connection to survivors and children. Create a world where survivors can heal, and children can maintain their innocence.

About the Author

Chris Yadon, MPA

Managing Director

As Saprea’s first employee and Executive Director, Chris Yadon collaborated closely with the organization’s founders to launch and establish its operations in 2015. Chris now serves as the Managing Director, leading the organization’s public efforts to drive societal change around the issue of child sexual abuse. He has previously held executive leadership positions for start-up tech and healthcare organizations. Chris is committed to driving broad societal change to address child sexual abuse and uses his influence as a thought leader and strategist to inspire others to take action. He firmly believes we can collectively create a better future for our children. A sought-after speaker, Chris inspires audiences with timely topics such as overcoming emotional numbing by learning how to feel again, protecting children from child sexual abuse in a hypersexualized world, and how to intentionally drive societal change. He has been featured across several media platforms where he is requested to contribute as an industry leader and subject matter expert. Chris received a BA and an MPA degree from Brigham Young University. He is the grateful father of six children: three boys and three girls. He and his wife, Christy, have been married for 28 years.

Recent blogs

Child Sexual Abuse – Turning Statistics into Action and Protecting Kids

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Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure

There is no quick fix that ensures your child will not purposely consume pornography, but a parent can do specific things that will reduce this risk. It is nearly impossible for a parent to prevent all accidental exposure to pornography. Still, again, a parent can do specific things that will reduce the volume of accidental exposures and their impact.

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Breaking the Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Incarceration: A Path to Healing

Research reveals a striking pattern among incarcerated women: up to 66% report experiencing childhood sexual abuse, more than double the rate found in the general female population (31%). While multiple factors contribute to incarceration, this dramatic statistical disparity demands attention.

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The post Child Sexual Abuse – Turning Statistics into Action and Protecting Kids appeared first on Saprea.

Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure.

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:13:21 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure.

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Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure.

I had just returned home from work and was putting away something in my closet when my sixth-grade daughter walked in and asked, “Dad, what does the word ‘prostitute’ mean? I know it has something to do with sex, but what does it mean?” Through the conversation, I discovered that she had heard the word on her elementary school playground. In that moment, I realized my response could either build a protective barrier against pornography or create curiosity that might lead toward it.

There is no quick fix that ensures your child will not purposely consume pornography, but a parent can do specific things that will reduce this risk. It is nearly impossible for a parent to prevent all accidental exposure to pornography. Still, again, a parent can do specific things that will reduce the volume of accidental exposures and their impact.

The Growing Problem of Children Exposed to Pornography

Rates of exposure, purposeful or accidental, are overwhelming. 53% of eleven-to sixteen-year-olds report seeing online pornography at least once. Of this sample, 94% report viewing online pornography before age fourteen.¹ According to other research, these numbers are likely very conservative, with pornography consumption growing among minors of all genders.

With this level of prevalence, all children are at a high risk. Many past generations have been exposed to pornography as minors and led healthy lives. Some may even argue that pornography is part of the normal sexual development of young people. So, should we care or even bother?

Why Parental Intervention Matters – Risks and Realities

There are three specific reasons we should care and bother to intervene.

Sexual content is used to groom children

During interactions with a victim, 98% of online groomers introduce sexual content into the conversation within the first day. 69% introduce sexual content within the first 30 minutes of an initial interaction.² Reducing exposure to pornography is part of reducing the risk of children encountering online predators.

The nature of today’s pornographic content is video-based and often violent.³

This exposure introduces children to unrealistic and harmful portrayals of sexual activity.

The consumption of pornography can become compulsive

Due to brain development, minors are more susceptible to the development of addictive or compulsive behaviors when exposed to a stimulus. Early exposure to pornography could create unwanted compulsions that are hard for the child to remove even in adulthood.

The Role of Technology – Reducing Accidental Exposure

There are great technologies that parents can use in their homes. However, parents must realize that their house is not the only place their children will have access. Children who want to access pornography are very resourceful and usually find a way. It could be through school resources, a friend’s device, bypassing parental controls, using a neighbor’s internet connection, and the list can go on and on.

While technology can reduce accidental exposure to explicit content, it's a limited defense against deliberate seeking. In fact, excessive reliance on technological barriers may actually undermine efforts to reduce the risk.

Overreliance on technology often leads to extensive technology restrictions. This is often the best approach for our younger children, but it can backfire as children grow. When a child, particularly an older teen, feels overly restricted, they often resort to deception to bypass restrictions. When they bypass a restriction, they shut down communication and turn to secrecy. Secrecy is where purposeful pornography consumption thrives and builds deep roots.

Parents should view technology as one tool in their overall tool belt, not as a fix-all. Like any tool, you use it for a specific job, but not every job. Purposeful consumption must be addressed through other methods and tools.

Combatting Purposeful Pornography Consumption – Effective Strategies

Pornography use among children flourishes in environments of dishonesty, embarrassment, and hidden behaviors. Understanding this makes it clearer how to intervene. Just know that reducing this risk requires deliberate, steady work that can be challenging. The foundation of success is keeping communication channels open.

Maintaining Open Communication With Your Child

Maintaining open communication with a child is a monumental task for any parent, even under ideal circumstances. Children go through regular and natural developmental stages to gradually assert their independence. It becomes common for teens to shut down or significantly limit dialogue with parents. Add to this the deception, shame, and secrecy, plus the awkwardness of talking about anything of a sexual nature, and you have a recipe for silence. And this recipe does not even account for the baggage we as parents carry into the relationship.

With all this against us, we may wonder if we will ever have a meaningful talk with our children again. So, how do we overcome these seemingly insurmountable odds to maintain open communication? We start early, reduce our tendency to inflict shame, and create safe spaces.

It was previously mentioned that children undergo stages of asserting their independence. Children also go through regular and natural developmental stages where their parent(s) are their entire world—their superheroes. And fortunately, this stage coincides with their early ability to rationalize. The sweet spot is usually between the ages of 6 and 10. Parents can use this stage to set curiosity, listening, and respect patterns when communicating with their children—reaping big rewards later as children mature.

Another crucial step is to stop shaming our children. This is often the most difficult change because our childhood experiences shape how we parent. If we experienced shame growing up, we are likely to use it with our kids. While shame is a topic that deserves extensive exploration, the most important thing to recognize is how easily we slip into shaming our children during correction or discipline. Those are the moments when shame typically emerges.

We must rethink how we talk to our children when disciplining and correcting them. Please don’t misunderstand; discipline and correction are critical to a child's healthy development, but how we discipline and correct can be damaging and counterproductive to our goals. Why is this so critical for this topic? When children see pornography, whether on accident or purpose, they already feel uncomfortable and likely have a sense of shame. If we respond to their disclosure with additional shame, it may be the last time they disclose, effectively putting them in a downward shame spiral that is the breeding ground for additional pornography consumption.

The third step to open communication is to set safe spaces. Safe spaces are places our children associate with positive, essential discussions. These spaces imprint in the child’s brain and can create a sense of safety that allows them to open up. They can be anywhere—a specific room, in a car, at a park. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they associate that place as a spot where they talk with their parent(s) about important things. It is helpful if a parent consciously and proactively picks spots for open dialogue. This sets a pattern that is familiar and safe for the child.

Following these three communication steps will help us overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds of maintaining open communication with our children. It also sets the parent up to create a plan with the child for what they will do when, not if, they are exposed to pornography.

Address Early Childhood Trauma to Prevent Pornography Consumption

Another key to reducing the risk of purposeful consumption is to help your child process early childhood traumatic experiences. We all have them. These experiences impact some more than others, and sometimes, the impacts can become debilitating.

Think of traumatic impacts as the result of an experience where we did not feel safe. When we have a traumatic experience, and it is followed by additional insecurity or dismissive responses, the experiences can leave an imprint in the survival systems of our brains, leading to trauma symptoms. Anytime we are in an environment that reminds us of the original traumatic experience, our physical senses instantaneously alert our biological survival systems, and those survival systems activate our stress responses in the brain and body. This is called a trigger.

If we have too many triggers and, thus, an abnormal amount of stress responses, our brain and body become maladaptive and start looking for a coping tool to create a sense of safety. This is often the birthplace of compulsive and addictive behaviors. We use these compulsive or addictive behaviors to calm the stress response. Our brain and body begin to crave these behaviors, and pornography can be one of these.

Because of the neurochemical release that accompanies pornography consumption, our brain may associate our triggers with a craving for that consumption, and, as a result, the purposeful pursuit of pornography begins.

So, what does a child need? The child requires a parent who will honestly identify traumatic experiences and help them healthily process those experiences. This is very hard for a parent to do because the traumatic experience is often associated with a sense of failure as a parent. The parent(s) tell themselves, “I did not protect them.”; “It is my fault this happened,” or the worst one of all, “I caused the trauma.” When a parent has this dialogue going through their head, dismissing or ignoring the hard work needed to help a child process their experiences is easy.

So, what is my child’s early childhood trauma, and how do I recognize it? The answer to this question can be as different as the child it applies to. A parent must become an astute observer. They watch moments when their children show insecurity or act out. Observing these moments, they look for patterns and connect the dots across these behaviors. Once they identify the patterns, the parent can help the child process traumatic experiences better.

Not all traumatic experiences are created equal. Some experiences are so consistently traumatic that a parent does not need to guess why their child struggles. The big three that almost always produce a significant trauma response are physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. These are closely followed by several other significant traumatic experiences, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, bullying, and emotional abuse. These significant traumatic experiences often require professional help. As parent(s), we should be quick to engage professionals when our children go through these types of experiences.

When we identify our children’s traumatic experiences and help them process these experiences (often with the help of professionals), we reduce the likelihood that our children will develop long-term triggers and maladaptive responses, which, in turn, reduces the possibility that they will use pornography as a coping tool.

Normalizing a Healthy Approach to Sex

Nothing says awkward more for a child or a parent than discussing sex. But we must embrace the uncomfortable and do it anyway. Our sexual expressions are essential to us as humans. They are beautiful and healthy when approached with the respect that they deserve. But, as with most things wonderful, they can also be abused and put us in harm’s way. Because of this risk of harm, parents often choose not to breach the topic of sex with their children, or if they do, discuss sex primarily using negative language.

Either of these approaches, silence or using negative language, tends to create sexual shame. It tells the child that this is not a safe topic. It is taboo. This leads children to quench their curiosity through internet searches, discussions with friends, or observation of popular media. Each of those alternative methods is fraught with danger and misinformation.

For this reason, it is critical that the parent(s) open dialogue about sex and sexuality in age-appropriate ways. Many resources guide parents on what to discuss at each stage of a child’s development. And it should start when they are a toddler. For example, a perfect discussion with a toddler is about privacy and boundaries. You can also talk with a toddler about healthy expressions, such as cuddling with a safe adult or giving hugs when they want. This age-appropriate dialogue progresses as the child grows and, as a result, normalizes a healthy approach to sex and sexuality.

There may be some awkwardness even in a family with healthy dialogue. Still, when a child hits a critical point, such as an accidental exposure to pornography or even a purposeful one, the openness will significantly increase the likelihood the child will discuss it and process the exposure with their parent(s), thus giving the parent(s) the opportunity to reinforce a positive and healthy view of sex.

A Reason to Hope – Empowering Parents Against Pornography Risks

These risk reducers, open communication, addressing traumatic experiences, and normalizing sexual conversations are critical for parents. Otherwise, you leave things up to chance, and the odds are not in your favor. But these keys also need a word of caution. You can do everything by the book and still have a child choose to pursue pornography purposely. This is why they are called risk reducers and not risk eliminators. Regardless, a parent should have hope that their plans and efforts will make a difference. As an engaged parent, you influence your child's choices more than any other person.

Pornography is rampant. Our kids will likely be exposed. Empowered parents willing to educate themselves, invest the time and energy, and approach the risk with commitment can make a difference for their children. They can reduce the risk that pornography will become a long-lasting, detrimental challenge.

About the Author

Chris Yadon

Managing Director

Chris Yadon is the Managing Director of Saprea, and is responsible for managing all operations and services of Saprea in both Utah and Georgia. Yadon has spent most of his professional career in start-up executive management with an emphasis in operations, marketing, and sales. Since joining Saprea in 2015, Yadon has brought a valuable skillset to the organization and is committed to addressing the epidemic of child sexual abuse. His expertise centers on increasing awareness arond this epidemic and educating the public on best practices for prevention and the healing services available to survivors. Yadon has been featured across several regional and national media platforms where he is often requested as an industry thought leader and expert.

Martellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J.R., Davidson, Levya, R., &Horvath, M.A. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it…” A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of children and young people.
Winters, G.M., Kaylor, L.E, & Jeglic, E.L. (2017). Sexual offenders contacting children online: an examination of transcripts of sexual grooming. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 23(1), 62-76.
Vera-Gray, F., McGlynn, C., Kureshi, I., & Butterby, K. (2021). Sexual violence as a sexual script in mainstream online pornography. The British Journal of Criminology, 61(5), 1243-1260.

Recent blogs

Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure.

Read this article

Breaking the Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Incarceration: A Path to Healing

Read this article

Why Parents Don’t See Child Sexual Abuse as a Problem—And How Proximity Can Fix It

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The post Protecting Kids: Navigating a Hypersexualized World and Reducing Pornography Exposure. appeared first on Saprea.

Breaking the Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Incarceration: A Path to Healing

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:25:28 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Breaking the Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Incarceration: A Path to Healing

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Breaking the Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Incarceration: A Path to Healing

“Clank!” The chilling sound of a jail cell locking is familiar from countless movies. But what if it wasn’t just a cinematic moment? What if it was your reality? You sit on an uncomfortable bed, thoughts racing through your mind as you ask yourself, “How did I get here?” For too many survivors of child sexual abuse, incarceration isn’t fiction—it’s their reality. Many incarcerated women ponder how they got there, without a clear answer. Maybe our society would benefit from a more thoughtful approach for how childhood trauma can pave a pathway to incarceration, prompting us to provide healing programs for survivors of child sexual abuse.

The Link Between Child Abuse and Incarceration

Research reveals a striking pattern among incarcerated women: up to 66% report experiencing childhood sexual abuse,¹ more than double the rate found in the general female population (31%).² While multiple factors contribute to incarceration, this dramatic statistical disparity demands attention. The consistency and magnitude of this relationship across studies point to childhood sexual abuse as a significant risk factor in women's pathways to imprisonment. As the saying goes, “Correlation is not causation.” But this level of high correlation should give us pause.

How Trauma Shapes Coping Mechanisms

The line between child sexual abuse and incarceration is not hard to draw. When a child experiences abuse, their safety is violated. The natural response from their brain is to seek safety. The survival part of their brain will not discern between constructive and destructive coping behaviors. As a natural consequence, a child may attach to harmful or maladaptive coping behaviors such as substance use, eating disorders, or suicidal ideation. This becomes more likely as they grow into their teenage and adult years. Using substances as an example, the survivor, now addicted, resorts to criminal activity to feed the addiction, eventually finding themselves involved with the justice system.

Learn More About How Trauma Impacts Childhood Development

The effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Breaking the Cycle Through Healing Programs

We have reason to believe that if we can reduce the number of girls who experience child sexual abuse and provide healing programs for survivors, we could reduce the number of incarcerated women. In addition, if we can help incarcerated women heal from their child sexual abuse, we have reason to believe that we can reduce recidivism through trauma healing. Each of these assumptions will need to be studied extensively, but until then, we can work with the data we have to design promising interventions.

Creating Opportunities for Healing Within the System

Research reveals a critical window of opportunity within correctional facilities themselves. One study noted that for some survivors—approximately one-fifth of incarcerated women—their first disclosure of childhood sexual abuse occurs within an institutional setting. This finding suggests that correctional facilities may serve as an unexpected but important venue for initiating trauma recovery work.

The timing of these institutional disclosures is particularly significant. While many survivors carry their experiences in silence for years—with 45.8% delaying disclosure for a year or more³—even the environment like a correctional facility, combined with appropriate support services, may provide the security needed to begin addressing long-buried trauma. Rather than viewing these facilities solely as punitive environments, we can recognize their potential as spaces where healing can begin.

This revelation also underscores the importance of ensuring that correctional staff are adequately trained in trauma-informed approaches and that facilities maintain robust mental health services.⁴ When a woman chooses to disclose abuse—perhaps for the first time in her life—the system must be prepared to respond with appropriate support and resources. This preparation could transform what might otherwise be a missed opportunity into a crucial first step toward breaking the cycle of trauma and incarceration.

A Scalable Solution for Incarcerated Women

Starting in 2019, our team at Saprea piloted various healing programs within women’s facilities. This has been a challenging journey. We have seen good, measurable success with the curricula, but the implementation has been difficult to scale until recently.

Working with our partner, Edovo, Saprea deployed ten curriculum modules complete with comprehension testing to 1134 prison and jail facilities across the United States. In the first month of deployment, over 10,500 incarcerated women accessed the curricula, over 7,500 completed at least one module, and over 2,800 finished the tenth module. This scalable approach allows Saprea to conduct rigorous outcome-based research to determine whether our curriculum, which works in other settings, can reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms and enhance coping skills in this underserved, deserving population.

Hope for the Future: Expanding Healing Efforts

With these promising advances, the best is yet to come. As we expand healing efforts to survivors, including incarcerated men, we give them a chance to rewrite their stories and return to society healthy and ready to contribute. Breaking the cycle of child sexual abuse and incarceration starts with awareness and action. I imagine a world where the clank of a jail cell is less of a reality for survivors of child sexual abuse and can only be imagined by them through the fictional portrayals of Hollywood.

Share this post to help raise awareness and explore our healing programs for survivors here.

About the Author

Chris Yadon

Managing Director

Karlsson, M. E., & Zielinski, M. J. (2020). Sexual victimization and mental illness prevalence rates among incarcerated women: A literature review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 326-349.
Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Colburn, D. (2024). The prevalence of child sexual abuse with online sexual abuse added. Child Abuse & Neglect, 149, 106634.
Malloy, L. C., Sutherland, J. E., & Cauffman, E. (2021). Sexual abuse disclosure among incarcerated female adolescents and young adults. Child Abuse & Neglect, 116, 104147.
Cunningham, T., Dalsklev, M., Hanna, D., & Dempster, M. (2019). Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse as a Predictor of Reoffending: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse.

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Why Parents Don’t See Child Sexual Abuse as a Problem—And How Proximity Can Fix It

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:06:39 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > Why Parents Don’t See Child Sexual Abuse as a Problem—And How Proximity Can Fix It

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Why Parents Don’t See Child Sexual Abuse as a Problem—And How Proximity Can Fix It

Eighteen years ago, my wife Christy and I attended a parenting conference. At the time, our children were eight and six, and we were focused on learning how to be better parents. The conference was largely unmemorable except for one passing comment by one of the presenters. He said research is showing that the average age a boy will first be exposed to sexually explicit content is between nine and eleven, so if you want to be the first person to introduce the topic of sex, you better talk before that age. I thought about all that could go wrong with him learning about sex from other sources, but the most concerning risk was the potential for child sexual abuse.

I felt a pit in my stomach. I didn’t want my eight-year-old son to learn about sex the way I did – pieced together through media, jokes from friends, and a grossly inadequate awkward health class, but I could not imagine having “the talk” with him as an eight-year-old. As I struggled with what to do with these back-and-forth, conflicting thoughts, ultimately, proximity created urgency, and Christy and I decided to have “the talk” with our son.

Understanding Proximity and Urgency

Before sharing the rest of the story, I pause to emphasize that sex, generally, and child sexual abuse, specifically, are uncomfortable topics for most parents. Yet, they are critical to address with kids. Both proximity and urgency are essential in influencing and motivating behavior to overcome this discomfort and protect children from abuse.

By proximity, I mean a sense of closeness or being near to an issue. Without this sense of proximity, we often ignore significant problems, regardless of their severity. While each can stand alone, they often work together, with proximity fostering a stronger sense of urgency.

Why Parents Often Miss the Problem of Child Sexual Abuse

In my work addressing child sexual abuse, I see this phenomenon daily. Despite extensive research highlighting that child sexual abuse is a significant issue in every community, many parents and caregivers dismiss it as a distant problem, believing it happens to someone else, somewhere else. This dissonant, apathetic response is not because parents do not view child sexual abuse as horrific but because they view child sexual abuse as distant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other researchers, about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys experience child sexual abuse in the United States.^{1, 2} Yet, a survey in my home state revealed that 65.4% of respondents—mostly parents—either disagreed (40.8%) or were neutral (24.6%) when asked if child sexual abuse is a problem in their immediate community (e.g., neighborhood, family, faith group, club, business).³

Only 34.6% of respondents acknowledged that child sexual abuse is an issue in their community. How can this be? Despite extensive discussions by researchers, news outlets, public health agencies, and nonprofits, a significant disconnect remains. Systems change expert John Kotter insightfully said, “Never underestimate the magnitude of the forces that reinforce complacency and that help maintain the status quo.”⁴ Perhaps we have underestimated the desire for humans to look away from something we do not want to face. Put another way, the lack of proximity reinforces our complacency.

What Is Proximity, and How Can It Help?

Survivors of child sexual abuse experience a significant amount of shame and stigma. This shame and stigma drive silence and secrecy. Survivors do not often tell their stories; if they do, they speak with fear of judgment.⁵ Most commonly, they share in very limited, closed circles. As a result, you and I interact with survivors of child sexual abuse often without having any idea what they have experienced in their past. I am not talking about acquaintances or casual friends. I am talking about close friends and even family. Yes, even within families, survivors often choose not to share about their child sexual abuse. The result? Most people do not think the issue is proximate.

What about urgency? When a threat feels proximate, urgency naturally follows. We respond, and we respond quickly. In the case of child sexual abuse, if I learn that my loved ones, those closest to me, experienced child sexual abuse, I will feel the urgency to help them heal and protect those I love, especially my children, from going through the same thing. Said differently, proximity leads to urgency.

Research supports this perspective. A study by experts at Johns Hopkins University suggest that when parents are actively engaged in prevention education, the risk of child sexual abuse can significantly decrease.⁶ This engagement is driven by a sense of proximity—understanding that the threat is real and close to home.

As we understand this connection, we can quickly see how stigmatizing child sexual abuse and shaming survivors into silence not only harms the survivor but creates environments that allow abuse to continue uninterrupted. As long as parents feel the risk is distant, child sexual abuse will continue to impact every community at higher rates than if it were confronted directly.

Turning Proximity into Urgent Action

Reflecting on the experience with my eight-year-old son, it becomes evident how proximity and urgency intersect to drive meaningful change. The presenter's reference to research on early exposure to sexually explicit content, coupled with firsthand accounts from loved ones, brought the issue uncomfortably close to home. This proximity created a sense of urgency that compelled my wife and me to initiate "the talk" despite our apprehensions. Our urgency was motivated by the proximate risk to our son, and that urgency overcame our conflicting thoughts about whether that moment was the right time.

I wish I could say I nailed that “big talk,” but like most things in parenting, the first time didn’t go so well. Yet eighteen years later, my twenty-six-year-old son has a healthy perspective about his sexuality - formed by hundreds of subsequent “little talks” with us as parents. Like me, he also heard about sex through media, jokes from friends, and a grossly inadequate, awkward health class, but he was equipped to handle it because he had our balancing voice. Proximity and urgency had met, changing our parenting behavior when he was eight years old.

Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse

When parents are actively engaged in prevention education, the risk of child sexual abuse can significantly decrease.

Start the Conversation

Any significant change, whether a broad societal issue like child sexual abuse or an uncomfortable talk with my eight-year-old, requires urgency to motivate new patterns of behavior. Child sexual abuse is more prevelant in our lives that we might admit. Creating urgency through proximity can protect our kids. Start the conversation with your loved ones today and explore more parenting resources here.

About the Author

Chris Yadon

Managing Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. Retrieved from CDC.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/child-abuse-neglect/about/about-child-sexual-abuse.html
Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Colburn, D. (2024). The prevalence of child sexual abuse with online sexual abuse added. Child Abuse & Neglect, 149, 106634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106634
Madsen, S. (2024, January). Child Sexual Abuse Research Summary. Retrieved from Utah State University: https://www.usu.edu/uwlp/files/child-sexual-abuse-research-summary.pdf
Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading Change. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press.
McElvaney, R., Lateef, R., Collin-Vézina, D., Alaggia, R., & Simpson, M. (2022). Bringing shame out of the shadows: Identifying shame in child sexual abuse disclosure processes and implications for psychotherapy. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(19-20), NP18738-NP18760.
Letourneau, E. J., Schaeffer, C. M., Bradshaw, C. P., & Feder, K. A. (2017). Preventing the onset of child sexual abuse by targeting young adolescents with universal prevention programming. Child maltreatment, 22(2), 100-111.

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The Myth of the Abused Becoming Abusers

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:31:23 +0000

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > The Myth of the Abused Becoming Abusers

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The Myth of the Abused Becoming Abusers

As a young college student, I decided that I didn’t like golf. I learned that golf actually stood for “Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden” and my hatred for the sport was solidified. I spent years railing against golf and the sexist acronym behind it.

Except it wasn’t true. I learned a few weeks ago that it’s a common myth, something repeated because it seems true, even though it isn’t.

This is relatively harmless compared to some myths—like the one that most perpetrators of child sexual abuse were once abused themselves. Or, in other words, that if someone is sexually abused as a child they are more likely to become an abuser when they grow up.

Of course, there are sexual abusers who were abused as children, but it isn’t as frequent or common as most people, even therapists, believe. In her book Predators, Anna C. Salter talks about how most men convicted of child sexual abuse will simply say that they were abused as children because it affords them more sympathy. In reality, fewer than 10% of them actually were.

So, what does this mean to you, as a parent?

If your child is sexually abused it does NOT mean that they will grow up to perpetuate that abuse on others, especially if your child is given the help and care that they need after the abuse is discovered.

It harms survivors of childhood sexual abuse to have this stigma attached to them. In addition to the trauma they experienced, they are now saddled with the fear that they’ll grow up to harm someone in the way that they were harmed.

When you read about a perpetrator of child sexual abuse, don’t assume that he or she MUST have been abused as a child. The truth is, we don’t actually know why people become sexual abusers, but we do know that it isn’t just because they were or weren’t sexually abused when they were children.

Some myths are harmless, like believing that going outside with wet hair will give you a cold. Others can cause a lot more harm. Make sure that you’re not making assumptions about the sexual abuse survivors in your life, or the perpetrators you may hear about. Here are eight more myths about child sexual abuse you can take.

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Boarding School Sexual Abuse Lawyer Thomas Giuffra, Esq New York

thomas@survivorsofabuse.com (Thomas Giuffra) — 2024-10-22T19:57:06+00:00

Boarding School Sexual Abuse Lawyer - Thomas Giuffra, Esq. - New York

Sexual abuse in boarding schools leaves profound emotional and psychological scars, often causing survivors to grapple with trauma for years. Our New York boarding school sexual abuse attorney, Thomas Giuffra, is here to help you navigate this painful journey with compassion and understanding.

Meet Thomas Giuffra: Your Advocate in New York

Thomas Giuffra, a seasoned sexual assault attorney in New York, leads our efforts to provide legal support across the state. His office is committed to fighting for survivors of child neglect, physical abuse, and molestation in private schools, serving clients from Manhattan to Buffalo and Staten Island to Albany.

The Essential Role of a Boarding School Sexual Abuse Attorney

A skilled New York sexual misconduct attorney like Giuffra plays a vital role in your case. He conducts thorough investigations to uncover the truth behind your experience and gathers evidence to build a strong foundation for your claims. With his negotiation expertise, he engages with schools and their insurers on your behalf, ensuring your voice is heard. Should your case go to trial, you can count on him to advocate for you with unwavering dedication.

Why You Should Hire a NY Boarding School Abuse Lawyer

Choosing a knowledgeable New York sex crime lawyer offers numerous advantages. With a deep understanding of relevant laws and regulations, Giuffra is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of your case. His familiarity with institutional practices allows him to effectively confront powerful opponents. Moreover, he provides compassionate support throughout your healing journey, ensuring you never feel alone.

You’re Not Alone—We’re Here to Help

If you’ve experienced private school sexual abuse, don’t face it alone. Our New York sexual harassment lawyers are ready to listen and provide guidance tailored to your situation. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options and rights.

Take the First Step Towards Justice

Thomas Giuffra and our team of boarding school sexual abuse lawyers in New York are committed to fighting for your rights. We aim to hold abusers and negligent institutions accountable while helping you find healing and justice.

Reach out today to begin your journey toward recovery. You deserve support, and The Abuse Lawyer NY is here for you.

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Boarding School Sexual Abuse Lawyer - Thomas Giuffra, Esq. - New York

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