Education is key to ending child sexual exploitation – Marin Independent Journal

Our children are being exploited. Our children are asking for help. We can do better.

It has been said that the ostrich is the unofficial bird of Marin County – the one that buries its head in the sand. I have been in countless classrooms and youth events and unfortunately I think we are living up to that statement.

It is easier to look the other way than to try to process the facts of how our youth are being exploited. There are youth in Marin from every zip code who are experiencing abuse, intimidation, exploitation, or even trafficking (online or in person).

There are more cases of sextortion and grooming now than I have ever seen before. Two out of three will not report their experiences to an adult. You might say, “In Marin? No, it couldn’t happen here.” But it does.

The world our youth live in is growing much faster than our ability to monitor, and our children are wondering where to turn for support. Acknowledging the problem and normalizing this conversation is something I’ve been advocating for since 2018. It was a problem then, but it’s even bigger now.

I am the Executive Director of SpeakSafe, a non-profit organization. Our multigenerational task force works together to raise awareness about youth exploitation and victimization in our local community in Marin County. We have a team of paid interns from Marin. They represent many high schools and colleges and use their student voices to educate and raise awareness about this much-needed issue. As one of our students noted, “I work with SpeakSafe because it gives me the opportunity to advocate for those who may not have the capacity to be their own advocates.”

In 2024, we’re making progress. But these tools—knowing what to look for and how to ask for help, to name a few strategies—aren’t reaching those who need them most.

I am hearing from a growing number of students in our region who need serious help and don’t know what to do. There are non-consensual images created by artificial intelligence, cyberflashing, undressing apps, sextortion, and unhealthy relationships with mentors and coaches.

Oftentimes, youth are being exploited by their peers or someone they know. Once they are educated, they may understand that they have been manipulated and ask for help. Often, this issue is not discussed. Sometimes we bury our heads in the sand until there is a lawsuit, which has caused many school districts to back down after the damage has been done. Recent local news reports have highlighted over 50 schools in the Bay Area facing lawsuits for sexual abuse.

It is now California law (Senate Bill 1227) to require all school staff, faculty, students, and parents to receive training. The simple presentation outlines all forms of exploitation, plus resources and, importantly, who to call if help is needed. Many districts have raised money specifically for this purpose, but as someone who is on the front lines and is often hired to give these presentations, I can tell you that we are missing out on large groups of young people who need these resources more than ever.