Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: An Evaluation of the Impacts of Social Media Platforms on Trafficker Grooming Tactics in the United States Open Access

Abstract

Social media has been identified as a tool for sex traffickers to connect with victims, potential buyers, and other traffickers in the United States. Specific details of social media’s implementation and impacts, specifically in the grooming of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) victims, remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate social media’s role in the grooming process, with particular attention to what types of traffickers are using social media, how they are using social media to develop trust with the victim, how the physical and psychological grooming tactics used differ when social media is use, and how social media affects the overall duration of the grooming process. Additionally, this study aims to identify what, if any, impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic have been observed with DMST. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 service providers who work directly with survivors of DMST in the US. Results highlight several key themes in the grooming process and provide relevant information to the study’s targeted hypotheses. Implications for future research and policy initiatives are discussed. 

Table of Contents

Introduction and Background …………………………………………………………………… 1

Literature Review………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Theory and Hypotheses ………………………………………………………………………….12

Data and Methods………………………………………………………………………………. 15

Results…………………………………………………………………………………………... 17

Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………. 32

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………… 39

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………….. 41

Table 1: Demographics of Participants…………………………………………………………. 18

Table 2: Perceptions on the Role of Social Media in Grooming……………………………….. 20

Table 3: Trust-Building Tactics………………………………………………………………… 23

Table 4: Determinants of the Duration of the Grooming Process……………………………… 27

Table 5: Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic on DMST Victims……………………………. 30

Table 6: Summary of Findings…………………………………………………………………. 31

 

Appendix A: Interview Guide………………………………………………………………… 47

Appendix B: Participant Consent Form………………………………………………………. 49

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Political Science
Degree	B.S.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Political Science, General
Keyword	Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Human Trafficking
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Emily Gade, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. David Davis, Emory University Dr. Adriana Chira, Emory University

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