Social media facilitated trafficking of children and young people

Abstract

Executive Summary: Social media platforms, while widely used by children and young people, are increasingly exploited for harmful activities that compromise their safety and well-being. Despiteheightened attention to youth engagement on these platforms, there is limited researchon how social media facilitates different types of exploitation linked to modern slavery.This report presents key findings from exploratory research aimed at betterunderstanding the ways social media is used to exploit young people. It also evaluatesthe preparedness of relevant stakeholders to respond effectively to these challenges. Thefindings emphasise the urgent need for targeted measures to safeguard young users andstrengthen response frameworks among stakeholders.