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Child sexual exploitation and abuse is a global health pandemic. It occurs in every country and is global in nature. However, this is a hidden pandemic, one that has been ignored and pushed to the side for far too long because the reality is often too difficult to contemplate.

The Into the Light Index, the world’s first estimate of the scale of this haunting problem, is a preliminary attempt to produce a global picture based on what Childlight researchers have been able to discover in partnership with others leading the fields of data, law enforcement and safeguarding. Whilst many gaps and inconsistencies remain, it provides a baseline by which we can measure the sector’s progress in understanding the true scale and nature of child sexual exploitation and abuse. As the data improves and we build our knowledge, we expect to provide more reliable country-by-country estimates and expand into other areas of child sexual exploitation and abuse, both online and offline.

This Index is intended to drive research that enhances our knowledge and understanding of the problem. More importantly, it is intended to have impact by raising awareness and providing frontline workers, policymakers and governments information by which they can make better informed decisions on safeguarding children globally from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Their assessment that at least 300 million children per year are subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse must serve as a wake-up call. So too our evidence that as many as one in nine men in parts of the world have sexually offended online against children – and that many would also go on to commit sexual contact offences with children if they believed it could be kept secret.

Read more here. 

While we all enjoy a day off and throw some burgers on the grill, go to the beach and hang out with family and friends, teaching our youth about Memorial Day is an important way to honor our country and all who served.  It can feel hard to know what to say, how to make it memorable and ways to make a difference with children. But there are so many simple things you and your family can do.  It does not have to be complicated.

What is Memorial Day?
The last Monday of May is set aside for one simple thing: remembering those who have died during active military service. Technically, it is set aside to honor only those who have died. We must remember them. However, it is often observed as a celebration of the USA with American flags, parades and cookouts. But we have many tips and takeaways to educate about the true meaning of the day. Let’s not forget those who sacrificed for us.  It’s okay to share this with children. They need to understand more about our American history.

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Pornography exists in many forms across the internet including pictures, videos, audio, written materials, video games, and social media posts. A majority of the US population has intentionally viewed pornography before, with an even larger majority of US young adults viewing pornography regularly. Despite the widespread use of and support for pornography, viewing sexually explicit media can have many negative consequences. For example, pornography use has been shown to correlate with decreased sex-life satisfaction, lack of positive self-image, and increased chances of divorce. Research also shows that both pornography viewers and pornography actors are likely to experience emotional health consequences. Two of the reasons people consume pornography so frequently are because the content has addictive properties and because it is widely marketed on the internet and therefore easily accessed. Likewise, the pornography industry generates massive amounts of revenue, which continually fuel the creation and advertising of new pornography. While there are many resources available to combat pornography use, the main practice to decrease pornography is to publicize its negative consequences and alert people to the risks they assume when they view sexually explicit content.

Learn more here. 

With just weeks to go until the end of the Albany legislative session, Gov. Kathy Hochul is prioritizing the passage of a measure that aims to crack down on what she says is young New Yorkers’ addiction to social media.

“I know about this crisis because New York teens have told me themselves, in their own words,” Hochul said during an Albany-based press conference Wednesday. “When you hear the pain in their voices, it hits you right here. Because we’re hardwired to just make life easier and more joyful. Childhood is supposed to be a joyful, happy time.”

Read more here. 

Read more here. 

Google and Meta are spearheading a fierce push to kill New York legislation aimed at protecting children online — and the controversial lobbying battle is poised to surpass $1 million in spending, The Post has learned.

A group of Big Tech firms, advocacy groups and companies from other sectors have spent $823,235 lobbying Albany lawmakers through mid-March as two high-profile bills – the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act – advance toward votes, according to recent public disclosures.

“This is an astonishing amount of money to be spent to kill two reasonable bills,” said one longtime Albany insider who requested anonymity to discuss the lobbying push.

The SAFE Act would crack down on addictive recommendation algorithms used by social media apps by requiring them to provide default chronological feeds for users 18 or younger unless they receive parental consent. It would also allow parents to impose time limits on social media use and in-app notifications.

Read more here.