Child Sex Trafficking, Online Grooming & Survivor Recovery with Katrina Terry

Let Me Know Your Thoughts and Question. Child sex trafficking, online grooming, sextortion, family trafficking, and child exploitation are serious threats facing children across America and around the world. But how can parents recognize the warning signs, protect their children from online predators, and help survivors recover? In this powerful episode of The Secret World of Human Trafficking, host David J. Story welcomes Katrina Terry, founder and executive director of Lion 195 Against Trafficking, for an important conversation about protecting children, preventing sexual exploitation, and providing trauma-informed care for survivors. Katrina shares her deeply personal story of surviving childhood abduction and sexual abuse. In 1989, she was kidnapped near her home by a serial sexual predator. After escaping that terrifying experience, she later endured years of sexual abuse within her adoptive family. Her experiences helped shape her commitment to protecting vulnerable children and advocating for survivors. Today, through Lion 195 Against Trafficking, Katrina works to raise awareness, support survivors, advocate for policy changes, and expand access to safe housing and specialized treatment for children rescued from sex trafficking. Child Sex Trafficking and the Hidden Danger of Familiar Trafficking One of the most important issues discussed is familial trafficking, where a child is exploited by a parent, relative, caregiver, or another trusted individual. Katrina explains why trafficking does not always involve strangers, kidnappings, organized criminal networks, or international borders. Sometimes exploitation happens inside a child's own home, hidden behind what appears to be an ordinary family life. The conversation examines why victims may remain silent, how abusers use fear and manipulation, and why recognizing the warning signs of child sexual abuse is essential. Online Grooming, Sextortion, and Internet Safety David and Katrina explore how predators use social media, online gaming platforms, messaging applications, and digital communication to approach children. They discuss: Online grooming: How predators build trust over weeks, months, or even years. Sextortion: How criminals use intimate images, threats, and blackmail to control children. Social media dangers: How personal information and photographs can expose children to exploitation. AI-generated images: How artificial intelligence can be misused to create fake sexual images and facilitate blackmail. Gaming platforms: How predators may target children through online conversations and gaming communities. Parental controls: How monitoring tools, including Bark phones, can help parents manage their children's online activity. The episode also touches on the online exploitation network known as 764 and the dangers of psychological manipulation, coercion, and threats against young victims. Life After Rescue: Helping Survivors Heal Rescuing a child from trafficking is only the beginning. Katrina discusses the challenges survivors face after escaping exploitation, including severe trauma, emotional distress, safety concerns, and a shortage of specialized residential treatment programs. She explains Lion 195's vision of expanding access to trauma-informed residential care and safe environments where children can receive counseling, medical attention, emotional support, and long-term assistance. The conversation also examines the challenges within the foster care system when children with complex trauma cannot access the specialized services they need. What Every Parent Needs to Know One of Katrina's strongest messages is that parents must create an environment where children feel safe reporting abuse, threats, or exploitation without fear of punishment. She emphasizes the importance of listening, believing children when they disclose abuse, recognizing behavioral changes, and taking action when something appears wrong. Parents, teachers, caregivers, and community members all have a role in preventing exploitation and helping vulnerable children find safety. How You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking Katrina discusses opportunities to support Lion 195 Against Trafficking through community education, advocacy, volunteering, donations, and its Join the Local Battles initiative. She also describes the organization's monthly educational webinars, designed to help parents and guardians understand online threats and better protect their children. Learn more about Lion 195 Against Trafficking: https://lion195.org Visit The Secret World of Human Trafficking: https://DavidJStory.com/podcast If you suspect human trafficking in the United States, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Join David J. Story as he continues bringing awareness to human trafficking, exposing exploitation, and giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Always watch your six, and others too. Support the show Go to DavidJStory.com for more information about the Host/Author and more episodes. Or if you want to be on the show.