PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — In Arizona, 13 is the average age a child becomes a victim of sex trafficking and January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month in our state.
As children continue to spend more time on social media, virtual predators have become more savvy in targeting and exploiting them. Child sex trafficking and internet crimes against children are growing concerns and state lawmakers introduced a new bill this week aiming to educate parents about the risks.
Rep. Julie Willoughby, a Republican from Chandler, said the idea for this bill was born from concerns she has been hearing from parents and local police departments who tell her there is a real need for more accessible resources about internet safety for children. “We know that a lot of times that children are much better at electronics and equipment than the parents themselves are, so they’ve always been asking the police department for this information. The police don’t have a good PR way of getting it out,” she said.
The Republican mother of two has been working with Arizona police departments with Internet Crimes Against Children units to address the issue. Her new bill would develop free online training programs available on the Department of Education’s website. “The last thing I want is it to be an old video. I remember watching videos that were 30 years old and completely irrelevant and nobody pays attention to and you just click on it and move on. That’s not the goal of this,” said Rep. Willoughby.
As written, the bill would require parents with students in grades four through eight to take the course each year during enrollment. Rep. Willoughby said she plans to amend the legislation so that the training is optional.
Republican Rep. Matt Gress from Phoenix is one of the bill’s co-sponsors. “I think that parents have done a great job of protecting their kids physically from the physical world out here, but I think they are struggling with the various avenues that kids can get access to the virtual world and that’s what we’re trying to do with this bill,” said Rep. Gress.
There’s a long way to go before something like this could potentially become law here in Arizona. The next step will be a hearing within the House Education Committee, which has not yet been scheduled.
Rep. Willoughby and Rep. Gress said the goal is to update the training routinely to reflect whatever is relevant at the time. Cyberbullying was discussed as another potential concern parents may need more resources on to keep their kids safe.
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Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
