As a future educator, it is in my interest to emphasize the continuous, blatant violations of the human rights of children. One violation of which is child trafficking, which is reflected in article four of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” Child trafficking pertains to children under the age of eighteen who are illegally exploited for various purposes, including commercial sex acts, domestic servitude, organ trade, forced marriage, and child labor. Minors are most susceptible to being victims of sexual exploitation, the most common form of trafficking amongst children. The sexual exploitation of children can be associated with forced labor, as exotic dancing and the production of pornography which are commonly observed in society become linked with the use of coercion against children within this context. 

The prevalence of child trafficking is a reflection of modern-day slavery, which has been given a tremendous platform by social media. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other outlets place children at risk of victimization. As technology is continuously advancing, it has become increasingly common for adolescents to interact with technology at significantly young ages. Additionally, social media use is concerningly used almost constantly amongst teenagers. Child traffickers use recruitment tactics on social media through chat rooms, dating apps or private messaging, and target a specific audience often associated with characteristics of vulnerability. With the incentive to lure children, traffickers will catfish and present themselves as potential love interests, post deceiving advertisements pertaining to job opportunities, or use multiple fake accounts to manipulate the victim’s emotions. In relation to human rights, article twelve of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.” The right to privacy on social media is a complex issue, but it is noteworthy to emphasize the selling of children, personal information, and child pornography as a violation through infringement on reputation and an attack on a victims’ privacy.

Without an education on the potential signs of child trafficking on social media, children are at a heightened risk of becoming victims. The majority of American students below higher education and twelfth grade are classified as a minor under the age of 18. These are the students who can relate most to this subject matter, as they are avid users of social media. Bringing awareness to even the most subtle indicators of potentially dangerous situations ensures the reduction of susceptibility to online trafficking amongst children. It is imperative to become knowledgeable on this ongoing crisis for both self protection, and the protection of others. By becoming educated, students can then relay their knowledge to younger generations through siblings or relatives to prepare them for the safe use of social media, and in turn, actively combat child trafficking.