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The crime of sextortion has been around for nearly two decades. Historically sextortion involved someone being tricked and coerced into sending a nude or illicit image, video or sharing an explicit live stream. There were many different variations of sextortion and driving influencers. Sometimes it was an individual pedophile that wanted to own/control their victim and even meet up to exploit the victim. Then we saw sextortion increase throughout child sexual abuse material rings (CSAM), formerly called child pornography. This developed primarily on the dark web and then moved off shore to countries that operate in "don't ask- don't tell" environments. But the world has changed over the past three years and few people are taking note. We have seen a convergence of advanced technologies that have come together to change online exploitation into total **digital warfare** - warfare that targets our kids and our seniors. This podcast will be the first of several podcasts to explore the implications of ten separate technologies that have many great features. At the same time these technologies create a perfect storm for pedophiles, predators, cartels and third world criminals giving them immediate access to exploit our children.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PODCAST ANY PARENT CAN LISTEN TO AND A CALL TO ACTION. Our world has "tilted" and nobody noticed. Million Kids has been combating sextortion since 2010. Initially, we dealt with kids who sent nudes, or who bullied others who had sent a nude. Occasionally, it would be a case of 'revenge porn" where to lovers took photos during a hot moment and then broke up with the revengeful party threatening to share the photos. Then it progressed to individual pedophiles who would seduce young girls into sending a photo and the blackmail began.As global pedophile rings were brought together in the dark web, pedophiles would turn to sextortion to gather large numbers of nude photos that they could buy, sell or trade on the dark net. Some pedophiles were prosecuted for blackmailing more than 1000 victims. As technology expanded, law enforcement began to investigate overseas cases where U.S. citizens participated in live streaming of minors being exploited.However, the world changed right after Covid. As billions of people went online, we experienced a technological transformation unlike we have ever experienced before. With 5G High Speed Internet, money transfer, geo location software, and artificial intelligence, NO ONE WILL BE SAFE, and our children are target number one.Financial sextortion is one of the fastest growing digital exploitation crimes of 2025. Criminals from Nigeria, Myanmar, the Ivory Coast can access our kids at their weakest moment and the grooming begins. This is mainly targeting successful young males and they demand money. There are now more than 60 Nudify sites where criminals (and kids) can make a deep fake illicit image of the most innocent among us.Million Kids cares deeply about this issue. We say, NO MORE. We are working furiously to educate teachers, parents, kids, and school districts about how to not be a victim. Equally important we want to create a streamlined intervention program for students to have safe haven and get immediate law enforcement investigation. AND there must be a mass education program for parents and kids. Never again should we lose a precious young person because they did not understand how digital exploitation works.

Every day it seems I witness young kids playing online and I wonder if the adult in their lives have any idea the danger that child is in. Most parents that hand a young child a device mean well and they say to themselves, "I will keep an eye on them" and "I am sure my child will tell me if something is wrong". It is well meaning and they are not bad parents. However, few parents understand how pedophiles access, groom and seduce our young kids into participating in online sex games. Recently, Million Kids highlighted a case of a 31-year-old pedophile who had exploited more than 60 young girls between the ages of 9 and 12. He used fake images, made himself look like a young girl and he convinced them to send him videos or sexual images that mirrored the sexually graphic images he had sent to the girls. Pedophiles often send young kids (both boys and girls) videos of kids playing house or sex games, and young kids giggle and find it funny. Trust me, it is a natural response to young kids. Young kids are cute and funny and they want everyone to love them and like them. AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT USING TECHNOLOGY! So they make a video just like the one they received and send it off to their new found friend. That means that the first sexual encounter these young victims have will be one of exploitation and it will change their lives for ever. No only can they not get the image back - EVER-, they have experienced child pornography long before they are old enough to understand what a healthy sexual relationship between adults should be about. There are many healthy choices for online interaction that does not need to make your child available to predators online. Go to Millionkids.org/resources for suggestions. Thank you for listening. Please follow us at MillionKids.org and share this podcast with everyone who has a young child.

This is the third podcast in a series of three about understanding how pedophiles and predators seduce kids and adults online.  With artificial intelligence technology surrounding us at ever turn, it is more critical than ever for parents, grandparents, educators, social workers etc tounderstand the art of online grooming. First, it is good to understand who the predators are and why they want to exploit an innocent person.  Think about this: if you have a million followers online (and many kids do through Tik Tok, Instagram, Gaming Chat rooms), what percentage of them are pedophiles? Lets suppose it is only1%  That equates to over 10,000 potential bad guys trying to seduce kids, lonely adults on dating sites, and naïve adults in bitcoin and time share scams.   Criminals are experts in learning everything about a victim and then mimicking their desires.  Whether it is finding love for the first time,  having someone who understands me, or exchanging a hot nude on the spur of the moment.  Predators are successful because they give you what you want, or what you are missing.Please listen to this podcast and share it, so we can say "never again" will I be taken advantage of online.  

This is the second in a three part series related to understanding how predators, pedophiles and organized criminals access, groom, recruit and seduce young people.  The grooming process is an artform used by criminalsto manipulate unsuspecting individuals into sending nudes, meeting up or take control of their lives.   Online grooming works because the Internet seems like a surreal environment where the victims are unable to visualize how their seemingly innocent activities will change their lives.  The hardest part in combating digital exploitation is to over come the sense of "This won't happen to me".   With the onset of artificial intelligence, predators will have agreat advantage in exploiting both young and old alike.  Artificial intelligence will provide a significant amount of personal information online so predators can immediately mirror the likes and dislikes of the victim and very quickly win their trust.  Grooming can take place in Chat rooms, through instant messaging, dating sites, hook up sites and even videogames.  We will discuss how to recognize if you are being groomed and most important how to handle it. 

HOW ARE PREDATORS ABLE TO SEDUCE A TOTAL STRANGER INTO AN ACTIVITY THAT WILL FOREVER COMPROMISE THEIR FUTURE?Online seduction is an interesting idea. Everyday, thousands of victims around the globe fall prey to online seduction. Sometimes, in only a matter of minutes. Think about this... can you imagine a 15 year old guy who meets a 15 year old girl in the mall and they go into the bathroom, strip naked, and take photos and exchange them? Seems absolutely crazy, and yet, research tells us that at least 1 out of 6 males and 1 out of 7 females have shared a nude image online with someone they never met. The results are often heartbreaking. Before we pick on teenagers, did you know that the adult romance scam business is now a $105 BILLION business just in the U.S? That is correct. It seems adults and yes older adults, get lonely and go online through video game chat rooms, dating sites, and even hook ups through Instagram and Facebook and fall in love with a total stranger. Then they end up sending literally billions of dollars to someone they never met. So how does this work? During the next couple of podcasts we are going to examine the art of online seduction. We will look at what factors make a victim vulnerable. We will look at how predators chose their victims and what scenarios work best to extort, blackmail and scam a teenager or adult. Most important, we will discuss how to intervene if someone you know is being sextorted and how to prevent you and your family to falling prey to online seduction.

Part 2 of a look at Sextortion. Every parent/caregiver needs to listen to these. This time Opal focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is being used to blackmail and threaten kids (and practically anyone can become a victim). It doesn't take much to take a photo of someone and make it explicit, then threaten the victim that the created deepfake photo will be shared with their family and friends.

This is a must watch or listen to for every parent and caregiver out there with kids on social media or the Internet. Do you know what sextortion is, how it happens, and who is vulnerable? Do you know how to protect your family and what to do if your child comes to you because they are being sextorted? We have had too many kids impacted already, some with devastating consequences, and it needs to stop. This is an ongoing series that will take a look at all angles of the sextortion crisis so that parents and caregivers can be better prepared.

We are going direct to podcast moving forward. Be sure to subscribe so you know when MillionKids.org releases a new training or topic video.Million Kids is a public benefit 501c 3 that has trained hundreds of thousands of individuals, leaders, parents and grandparents about how to stay safe online and not become a victim of sexual exploitation. For the past eight years, Million Kids has shared stories of prevention and intervention concepts to help our listeners understand how unsuspecting individuals become victims of human trafficking and online social media exploitation. We have great sadness in our heart, as this will be our last AM 590 broadcast. The AM 590 partnership has been excellent. The broadcasts have allowed us to reach the public in a way no other media provides. Over the past eight years, so many listeners have shared how the information received in these broadcasts have impacted their lives. God has blessed this work and we are so grateful for the fine relationship with KTIE, AM 590. But it is time for a new direction. Million Kids will continue our podcasts and videos as well on our You Tube Channel (as well as Rumble, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts and Apple Music), our newsletter and our constant outreach to educate as many leaders as possible on human trafficking and digital exploitation. We have assembled a team of experts that research and investigate the latest trends in crimes affecting kids and families. This is so important because our world is undergoing a technological transformation unlike we have ever seen in history.Million Kids is committed to bringing you the latest developments accompanied by analysis and discussions about how these changes will affect all of us. We hope you will continue to follow us at MillionKids.org as we bring you cutting edge information to help keep our kids safe from predators.

Romance scams have been around forever, but now with artificial intelligence, global 5 g high speed connection, money transfer options on most apps, and geo location software, online romance scams are estimated to be morethan $1.3 billion dollars in losses just in the United States alone.   Million Kids has been educating adults about romance scams for several months now.  However, we feel there is an urgent need to raise the funding to develop a targeted outreach education program for Seniors so they will recognize when they may be in danger of being financially exploited. Because of technology, things have changed, and the public (especially older individuals)need to understand how this work.  Historically, like most victims of online exploitation, middle age and senior adults believe that "it won't happen to them".  All of us want to believe that we would be smart enough to know when someone is trying to steal our life savings.  But with artificial intelligence, overseas criminals have excelled in using technology to fleece even the most sophisticated victim. The challenge is that individuals who are alone in later years,often go online to seek companionship, share video game chatrooms, access dating sites, or simply answer an email or text for someone we "think" we know.   Now artificial intelligence provides criminals with your mostpersonal information that can be used to pinpoint psychological weaknesses and they will have access to details of your home, your job, your travels, your family, and your friends.  This information is smoothly used to ignite amoment of passion, start a flirting relationship, and generally foster trust.  What looks like a new best friend, or someone who finallyunderstands me, a romantic interest that reignites the long dead passions, the victim will not realize that they are actually interacting with a bot, an algorithm, or a criminal ring working out of Nigeria, Philippines or Myanmarthat is designed to take every dime you have and are left destitute. Million Kids believes this does not have to happen.  We aredeveloping an outreach program to educate " Big Kids - some in their 70's and 80's" about how online scams work and how not to be a victim. If you are interested in helping us get this program off theground, please go to MillionKids.org/donate.  This radio show is designed to start the outreach process so everyone understands the power of artificial intelligence in online scams and most important to educate yourself and yourloved ones so they won't become a victim of online exploitation. 

Million Kids is a public benefit 501(c) Non profit organization that started in 2008 and continues to this day.  Our mission is single focused:  To keep kids safe from predators.  During this show we share with you about our journey of growth and expansion.  Million Kids has educated more than 750,000 people in person and thousands more using our online education resources.  Our team has tens of thousands of hours of research about subjects like sex and labor trafficking, social media exploitation, CSAM (formerlyknown as child pornography), foreign national trafficking, gang trafficking, the recruitment and grooming processes, bulletproof hosting, the impact of technology (including AI) on child sex crimes and cartel and organized crimesrole in trafficking and money laundering. We believe that it is important for parents and grandparents to understand how predators select and target their victims, how they groom and recruit their victims and signs to watch for if they believe a child is a risk of being trafficked or exploited.At the same time we are trained and experienced at educating a wide range ofprofessionals including law enforcement, fire departments, code enforcement, medical personnel, teachers, education leaders, civic leaders, and social workers so they can identify individuals are high risk and intervene. Million Kids operates Million Kids Missing Kids as we recognize that potentially one out of 7 kids who run away will become victims of trafficking in the first 48 hours.  We work with our supporters to provide foster child bedding and personal item support programs to help foster kids buildstrong self esteem and discover and embrace their talents and self esteem.  We KNOW that "I Believe in YOU" are the four most powerful words on earth to help at risk individuals to know their value. Million Kids has been on a journey and we so much appreciate all the people who have supported our work and made this journey possible.  THANK YOU -without you, your support and your prayers, we would not be here.Now we need you more than ever.  Everything has changed in the past 12 months and it is a whole new game.  Artificial intelligence (AI) means we are faced with a world of deep fakes where everyone will be subject to being blackmailedthrough an online encounter.  We must educate young and old alike about sextortion, romance scams, and deep fakes.  With open borders, we have seen a massive increase in young people being trafficked in our communities.  We are ready to take this on, but we need your support.  It is our hope and prayer that each and everyone of you that read this overview and listen to our podcast, will join this journey with us.  Together, we can and will do everything possible, 'TO KEEP KIDS SAFE FROM PREDATORS".

Why are some children more easily "groomed" than others and how can we change that?I am fortunate enough to attend a church that operates anelementary school. This past week, the first grade and kindergarteners put on a program, and it was so refreshing to watch the innocence of a child.  The reality is as these kids grow up they will change, as they make mistakes, as they experience loss, fear, shame, and many will lose their sense of value. I recently saw an interview with Brian Coxon BBC on “Why you should keep your inner child alive”.  He talked about how that inner child will influence you for the rest of your life.That started me thinking about how can we help thoseyoung people who experience the worst of life, such as abuse, abandonment, rejection, as they are trapped in exploitative relationships.  After many years in working with prevention of sex trafficking and online exploitation, we know that the most vulnerable kids for being “groomed” by a predator are kids that need approval, or to fill the deep loneliness in their heart, or needing someone to take care of them as they believe they cannot do it themselves or they are not valuable enough for others to help them.During this podcast, we talk about how the four mostpowerful words on earth “I believe in You” can help a lost child find the strength to begin a journey of loving yourself, forgiving yourself and finding the good for your inner child.  We discuss the power of examining your “self talk” and learning to reinforce your ability to make good choices.  We talk about that there is no such thing as “damaged good” because it is never too late to make new and better choices and turn your life around.

Once again as we all prepare for the 2025 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles held on Feb 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, there are headlines everywhere about the heightened concerns related to human trafficking.  Law enforcement officials are warning visitors that they have increased their presence in New Orleans to ensure that young people are not lured into exploitation, and no one is victimized by sex buyers.  Hospitality businesses such as hotels, motels, Resorts, and airlines, Uber drivers and travel businesses are all being trained to recognize signs of human trafficking.  Posters are being installed in bathrooms in businesses across the area.  It is true that for many years, there has been an increase in the number of cases of human trafficking at large scale events.  They are often referred to as “circuit girls”. These are girls engaged in commercial sex who are brought across the nation to provide sex services at large scale events where there is increased demand.  Be sure to join us as we discuss sex buying and selling at these events and many of the dangers involved in purchasing commercial sex including having your photo taken, blackmail by sex sellers and their agents, connection to organized crime and most importantly the enhanced risk of being arrested. 

For many months we have heard that once the new presidential administration is inaugurated that there will be many changes related to sex and labor trafficking of migrants and unaccompanied minors in the U.S.  People have asked us many times how that will affect human trafficking in our communities.  The answer is: It is just too early to tell.  With many years of open borders, literally millions of people have arrived in our country that we have very little knowledge about.  We know that many of them are good, hard working people escaping poverty, and organized crimes in their own country.   However, we also know that when a society does away with the rule of law, and no longer vets individuals entering our country that many of those coming in are gang members and violent members of organized crime that prey on the good people who have entered but do not have the funds to pay back their trafficker. The challenge is how can we tell which ones are the good guys and which ones will hurt us, our families and other migrants.    As people involved with leading Million Kids we believe that NO ONE, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual preferences and gender should ever be a victim of exploitation. Now that criminals are unidentified and moving in our communities, it is difficult to find out how to protect those individuals who are being trafficked on American Soil.   We are predicting that over the next several months, that hopefully many gang and cartels members will be removed form our neighborhoods.  We also hope that those that are now living in our communities that are being trafficked will come forward and ask for assistance. It is a complicated issue requiring complex answers but we are here to help.

Lately, it seems nearly every hour we hear about how A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is affecting our lives. Trying to comprehend what that means to all of us on our day to day lives, and more important, how to protect our children while preparing them to live in a digitally altered world, could be one of the great challenges of all time. This week we will look at several cases where kids have been sextorted by digitally manipulated images. We will explore the "Nudify" apps used to undress and "nudify" fully dressed images online. We will discuss recent research that indicates that 20% of preteens have online sexual encounters with adults. We will also look at another study by Thorn.org, one of the most respected organizations combating online exploitation. This study suggests that 31% of 13-17 year olds agree with the statement: "It is normal for people my age to share nudes with each other". Artificial Intelligence will have many benefits in our lives. However, no one can predict the down side such as receiving a blackmail letter asking for thousands of dollars that includes a photo of your home, your address and a lot of your personal information. It is important for parents and young people to understand the changing world we live in and develop ways to protect ourselves and each other.

As technology changes and advances, it is sometimes difficult to know what is the truth. We also see widespread scams and extortion targeting our kids and seniors. It is vitally important that we all know how to recognize the dangers and then have honest conversations about those potential dangers with our family members. Equally important, letting them know they can come to us if they get victimized.

WHAT ARE THEY? WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW TO EDUCATE YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN. The past several months has brought us a technology transformation unlike anything we have ever seen. As third world countries have joined the world wide web because of 5G high speed internet, literally millions of poor individuals are enslaved in scam farms in countries like Myanmar, Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Philippines to conduct fraudulent online scams to extract millions of dollars from U.S. teens, adults and senior citizens. The FTC reported that more than $10 Billion was lost in online scams in the U.S. in 2023. During this week's show we will discuss how Scam Farms, Click Farms and Bot Farms operate and the devastating effect it has on U.S. citizens when they fall prey to overseas scam artists. It is critical that adults and youth alike, understand how the globally connected world means that no one is safe from falling prey to an overseas scam artist.

2025 is looking to be an intense year and we are gearing up for it - with chat farms, bot farms, scam farms, character ai, generative ai. That is in addition to what is already happening with human trafficking and online exploitation. Our most vulnerable are being targeted - children, teens and our seniors. But with this new technology, ANYONE can be a victim. Join us as we educate to combat against predators. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Mack Jackson Jr is a cyber security speaker and consultant that works with complex corporate cybersecurity issues. He provides expert consulting and employee training to mitigate risks by educating the work force about cybercrimes. Mack also has a heart for helping individuals stay safe online. Mack will share about his two new e books: “The Ultimate Guide to Password Security” and “Cybersecurity Basics for Non-Techies”. The year 2025 will bring many changes affecting corporations, businesses and individuals. Businesses, individuals, our kids and the elderly are starting to see the results of global scam farms targeting naïve and unsuspecting people to generate billions of dollars in cartel revenue. At the same time, we are seeing the results of artificial intelligence, character AI, and bots that can access our passwords, our personal information, and build relationships that can be used to seduce and groom, the most innocent people including our kids and the elderly. Cybercrime is a multibillion-dollar industry and it is critical that all of us become educated about how global predators operate and how to protect ourselves. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Life is fleeting.  We believe that the four most powerful words on earth are “I Believe in You!” We are grateful for all the supporters and participants in the Million Kids Team. 2025 is looking like it will be the most challenging year in our existence.  We are getting ready to expand our services.  Million Kids has just released our new website at Millionkids.org. Be sure to check it out.  Take advantage of our resources page and make sure you sign up for our newsletter.  We are committed to being on the cutting edge for preparing leaders to combat human trafficking and social media exploitation.  If you want to support this work, check out our “donate” page. Million Kids is a 501© non profit organization and your donation is tax deductible. No one knows what will come in 2025.  We do know that somewhere between 5 million and 15 million people have entered the U.S. and it is nearly impossible to tell who are the perpetrators and who may become victims of trafficking.  We also know that foreign national gangs have joined forces with US gangs and sadly, nearly 90% of sex trafficking in the U.S is gang controlled.  This makes the victims much more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. We look forward to joining forces with our supporters to prepare to take on this challenge in 2025.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Our guest this week is Lynda Bergh Herring who has authored a new book for parents "Keep your Children Safe Book- 15 Key Steps to Educating and Protecting Children from Online Predators, Trafficking and Sextortion.  "  AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM  ONLY $6.99   Online child exploitation, blackmail and sextortion are some of the fastest growing crimes in the world.  As the entire world goes online, our kids can be accessed by billions of people, some of which are predators, pedophiles and organized criminal enterprises.  Most parents and kids have little understanding on how to tell if they are interacting with someone that might wish them harm.  Even more concerning, nearly everyone believes "it won't happen to me".  But what if it does?  How can we teach our kids to identify critical signs that will alert them that they may be in danger?  Lynda has created an easy to read, simple guide to learn 15 key steps to talk with children and grandchildren about what to look for, how to react, and the importance of sharing if they believe someone is trying to exploit them.  "Your Amazing Itty Bitty book is straightforward, short and easy to read.  It may be the most important book of the year if you have a child online.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Million Kids has been combating human trafficking here in the Inland Empire and across the nation for nearly 15 years.  We have seen many changes as pimps, predators, and pedophiles use technology and sophisticated grooming and recruiting tactics to access, groom, seduce and recruit our children.  However, much of this has changed over the past four years as our nation's leadership has encouraged open borders.  The result has been the migration of literally millions of individuals from all over the world.  Many are fine individuals who are looking for a better life. Some are criminals and coyotes who prey on those individuals as well as holding their families back home hostage to blackmail/ransom payments.  Some are criminals and gang members who are part of organized crime. No one knows for sure what the future will bring.  We do know that when a country or a state overlooks the rule of law, criminals will see that as a major opportunity to exploit innocent individuals.  The challenge will be separating the victims from the perpetrators and being able to support the needs of the victims.  The Million Kids team remains committed to helping victims of trafficking and do what we can to keep kids safe from predators. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Everyday, millions of kids go online for video games, hook up sites, chatrooms etc. For young people the online world represents a type of socialization and connection to their friends and often people they have never met.  This is the first generation of kids that will live in a world that connects 6 billion people.  All the while apps and platforms feed us new information about politics, criminal acts, social movements, videos of dogs, cats and weird people and announce headlines that just seem hard to believe. Honestly, few people who use the world wide web have any understanding of how it is made, how it works and who you are sharing this service with.  Several years ago, the FBI stated that they believed that there were more than 500,000 predators online at any given time.  With global 5G high speed connection implemented in 2022-2023, billions of people came online including cartels and organized criminal operations around the globe.  At the same time, our world experienced a technology transformation unlike anything seen in history. Over the past few months many sophisticated technical capabilities were added including: geo-location software, money transfer, mass audience live streaming and artificial intelligence.  Certainly these technologies makes our  lives easier, but at the same time, additional technical capabilities enhance the predators opportunity to access, groom, recruit and exploit our kids. It is time to educate ourselves and have informed, constructive conversations with our kids about how the internet works, who is online with you and the technologies they use to gain your trust.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

It seems that we hear about human trafficking through the media almost every day.  But few people are truly aware of the reality of how this happens and even more so, they are surprised to find that a family member or friend of a friend are victims.  The crime of human trafficking is often defined by force, fraud, fear or coercion.  A young person may go online and meet someone they really fall for and then sneak out and meet up with them, only to find out that the real person is a pimp or gang member that has been grooming them for a life of forced commercial sex.  Victims of trafficking are groomed, coerced, seduced and then violated to the point that they often feel as if they have no way out. We discuss how Million Kids has created programs to educate the most vulnerable potential victims so they will not be come victims of trafficking.  We will talk about what the public can do to get involved and support our work including: (1) Education and outreach to the public  (2) Foster child bedding program (3) Million Kids Missing Kids Flyer outreach and distribution program.  At Million Kids, we believe ALL kids are worth fighting for. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

A.I. is the latest technology to turn our world upside down.  Technology itself, is neither good or bad but how the user chooses to engage it. That is certainly true of Artificial Intelligence. A.I. is basically machine learning. For years technology experts have been gathering data all over the world and then feeding it into machines, then evaluating the output for accuracy. The machines simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making etc.  The more recent breakthroughs are with generative AI which uses existing data to create new texts, images, videos etc. There are many good applications for AI. in the .world of combating sex and labor trafficking. There are several quality organizations that have invested in information consolidation and data analysis to identify and and analyze online commercial sex ads to reveal whether or it is related to human trafficking.  The same processes are effective in analyzing dark web ads or postings that may be related to CSAM (Child Sexual abuse Materials.). These capabilities could greatly increase the effectiveness for law enforcement in identifying and rescuing potential victims of trafficking or CSAM. However, there is a down side to A.I. in crime fighting especially in crimes related to elder abuse, sextortion, and social media exploitation of our kids. One of the aspects of A.I. is that the systems can consolidate large amounts of online data so that few people on earth will be anonymous.  This means predators can threaten blackmail while presenting large amounts of personal information about you and your family while trying to extort money or illicit images. Additionally, there are now many "nudify" websites where predators (and uninformed kids) can use the website to undress anyones photo and create a photo that is nude or sexually illicit.  Predators that "know" all about you, are much more effective in terrifying their victims and extracting significant sums of money from their victims.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

America has just come through one of the most contentious elections in history. Thanks to A.I. and 24 hour news cycles all of us have been bombarded with mud-slinging, outrageous promises and things that most of us realize just cannot be true.  We hear about misinformation and disinformation, and promises of doom and gloom if the other side wins. Regardless or not on if your candidate won, this is an important time to remind yourself and share with your child that happiness, peace and setting goals for the future are not controlled by others but rather, they are choices that we decide to make regardless of outside influences.  This reminds us of a quote by Mike Bechtle, “People can't drive you crazy if you don't give them the keys”  We look at key behaviors that will put the control back into our lives and give us the power and tools to be happy regardless of outside influences.  We will examine goal setting behaviors, and self examination, and letting go of responsibility for a short while to find the fun things inside yourself.  Everyone of us has the capability of being happy, we just have to decide that is important to us. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Million Kids wants to recognize Bob Mauger, Corona Norco Unified named California Teacher of the Year.  Mr. Mauger is a high school Career and Technical Education Transportation Automotive Teacher at Corona High School.  How fortunate Riverside County is to have great leadership in education.   This week we discuss the challenges to finding truth in media.  It seems with the constant barrage of election messages and media that is driven by misinformation, disinformation and alteration by artificial intelligence, it is harder than ever to find "The Truth".  Equally important is how to raise young people who have the maturity and cognitive reasoning to discern truth.  This may be the greatest calling in all of history. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

With elections come ads - everywhere.  TV, Social Media, Radio, yard signs, even trailing behind an airplane in the sky.  There is no escape.  So many ads are negative, name calling, disinformation, misinformation and let's face it, some are out right lies.  I often wonder how we explain this to our children.  I am old fashioned I guess but I thought leaders were people who take the high road, that find the good in each other, and believe that some things are best left unsaid We will look at some of the truths about life. Here are some examples: You have a finite time in life- Use it wisely You will always have choices - even if it is no choice Money that you don't own, is money you will not appreciate. You are responsible for your own happiness - no one else.  There will always be change in life-accept what you can and let go of the rest. Challenges in life are what makes you grow as a person. Gratitude is the greatest gift of all - the most reliable source of strength.  A QUOTE FROM GEORGE ELIOT  IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Online scams affect every one of us, however, some of the saddest and fastest growing crimes in the U.S. involves older people who fall prey to new online relationships or offers that are just too good to be true.  In fact, the Department of Justice states that online financial crimes affecting older people are up more than 11% in 2024.  There are many contributing factors.  Almost everyone, including Grandma and Grandpa have online devices where they can be reached by total strangers all hours of the day and night.  The year 2023 resulted in many third world countries receiving 5g high speed internet which gives immediate access to literally billions of people around the world, especially for successful Americans with retirement accounts.  And most apps and websites now have money processing capability which facilitates an easy transfer of American cash to foreign countries.  We explore the world of online scams that exploit our older population.  We will look at romance scams, timeshare scams, sexual blackmail, phishing scams, and scams involving a grandchild in need. If you or someone you know is a victim of an online scam, STOP all communication immediately.  Ask for help from a third party you trust. Never – ever give money to someone you meet online, regardless of how much they might care for them or you believe their story.  Save all communications and if there is potential threat or blackmail, take the communications to your local law enforcement agency. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Lately, it seems nearly every hour we hear about how A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is affecting our lives.  Trying to comprehend what that means to all of us on our day to day lives, and more important, how to protect our children while preparing them to live in a digitally altered world, could be one of the great challenges of all time.  This week we will look at several cases where kids have been sextorted by digitally manipulated images.  We will explore the "Nudify" Websites used by application developers and the big tech companies to undress and "nudify" images online.  We will discuss recent research that indicates that 20% of preteens have online sexual encounters with adults. We will also look at another study by Thorn.org, one of the most respected organizations combating online exploitation. This study suggests that 31% of 13-17 year olds agree with the statement: "It is normal for people my age to share nudes with each other".   Artificial Intelligence will have many benefits in our lives.  However, no one can predict the down side such as receiving a blackmail letter asking for thousands of dollars that includes a photo of your home, your address and a lot of your personal information. It is important for parents and young people to understand the changing world we live in and develop ways to protect ourselves and each other. (9.7.24) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

All of us are in denial about something.  Maybe we don't believe the scale when we weigh in, we are sure we made more money than we spent last year, or our kids are the most brilliant in their class.  Denial can be a great coping mechanism.  Sometimes we minimize the situation, or we simply refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the issue.     Denial is often a coping mechanism for victims of human trafficking or online social media exploitation.  The victims will often rationalize that it was their actions that resulted in violence or punishment, or being blackmailed.  Denial is often at the heart of addiction whether it be to overeating, drinking, drugs, pornography or online adrenaline addiction. The most concerning denial is when leaders, legislators, and politicians create bills based on denial of reality or make promises they know they will never keep.  Our society is in the middle of an election season where we are faced with promises and claims we all know just could not be true.  And yet they are delivered with a straight face and seeming sincerity.  Is it denial or is it dishonesty or is it disingenuous?  One of the greatest challenges to this young generation is how to discern what is true.  Raising children to be able to identify and verbalize their values is one of the greatest callings of all time. Being able to delineate between denial and dishonesty will form the bases of leadership for the next generation of young people. (8.31.24) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

The weather is hot, the political conventions are broadcasting twenty-four seven, and I am receiving over 50 texts and emails an hour.  There are constant allegations about a lack of factual truth, disinformation, misinformation, and bold faced lies. In a recent conversation with a long-time friend, we discussed what life will be like for our children and how do we prepare them to live in a world bombarded second by second with a wild range of “facts as seen by the moderator” and insisting that a total stranger interpret what we all just heard and are apparently not capable of understanding it.  Over the past 25 years our world has moved from 24-7 news cycles, to artificial intelligence modifying texts, tweets, press releases and live interviews to persuade us to believe what they are selling.  The challenge is how to prepare this generation of young people to be able to listen to millions of outside input and discern the truth.  This week we discuss the need for families to return to old fashion values.  We challenge families to have a meeting, discuss your “life principles” and write down a statement of your family values. It is important to prepare young people to understand the global world they will grow up in and reiterate the value of choices.  We are the sum total of what we put in our mind.  This time in history is unlike any before us, and the challenge is to prepare our young people to be leaders embracing truth and honesty in relationships. (8.24.24) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Million Kids has been combating sex and labor trafficking in Southern California for many years.  People often ask us if it is getting better or worse.  The answer is clear.  Human trafficking and online exploitation are more prolific, more violent, and more egregious than we have ever seen it. There are many factors driving this increase of activity.  California legislators have enacted laws such Prop 47, Prop 57 and SB 357 that make it easier for criminals to operate with near immunity.  SB 357 is called the “California Safer Streets Act” and makes it so law enforcement cannot intervene with street prostitution. This took place as we have open borders, softer sentencing of criminals, bills that let people out of prison early and rampant homelessness.  Recently, Senator Shannon Grove tried to get support for SB1414. This bill would have made it a felony if you sell a minor for sex in California.  The bill was greatly watered down by the opposition, so that it only applies to minors under the age of 16.  In essence, it will mean that selling a 16- or 17-year-old for sex is a misdemeanor. To learn how to stand against this bill, email to info@Millionkids.org Opal Singleton, Host of Exploited: Crimes and Technology shares with the audience about the many different types of sex and labor trafficking cases in Riverside County. These include family trafficking, female recruitment, gang trafficking, a pimp that recruited 28 minors from Moreno Valley, and Mexican and Chinese trafficking cases in the Inland Empire.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Million Kids has been combating sex and labor trafficking in Southern California for many years. People often ask us if it is getting better or worse.  The answer is clear.  Human trafficking and online exploitation are more prolific, more violent, and more egregious than we have ever seen it. How does a person end up as a victim of trafficking? Seduced, Groomed and Recruited             Gang Trafficking             Pimp/Bottom Girl Trafficking             Family Trafficking             Some businesses are more prone than others i.e. trucking.  Also Foreign National Trafficking - People from other countries  who are forced into trafficking once they arrive in the U.S. Examples: Massage parlors, skin care, aroma therapy             Drop Houses, illegal pot grows             Forced Marriage             Domestic Servitude --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

We all watched in horror as a former President of the United States was wounded in an assignation attempt by a 20-year-oldyoung man with no history of violence who decided to take other people's lives.  There were many other crimes that received lesser attention and yet they also altered other people's lives.  Headlines sharing how sexually explicit AI Deepfakes were sent around high schools and ruining the lives of more than 50 innocent girls.  Nearly 100 young people in the Bay area took over a convenience store and destroyed or stole the contents and threatened the lives of an innocent clerk. Every one of these instances reminds us that, in this world, are people with little moral character, demonstrating corrupt human values and having total disregard for others.  At the same time, it occurs to us that global social media will be the primary factor in impacting our children's attitudes about right and wrong, truth and propaganda, and moral clarity. Now, more than any time in our history, it is critical for parents and grandparents to define family values for our children.  It is important to counter the outside influence on our children, giving them a solid foundation to know unequivocally what we believe in.  We encourage open discussions about empathy, respect, love, forgiveness, self-respect and honoring the rights and possessions of others.  I think it is important to have discussions about digital morality, and the impact of A.I. in altering the truth, and the challenge to define your own character. One of the most valuable activities a family can experience is to identify and write down, what your family believes and stands for.  Individuals who know who they are and what they stand for are infinitely more difficult to influence for bad and much more likely to mature to become leaders with strong character and moral values. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Most adults would be appalled and intimidated at the thought of posting a nude image of themselves online.  But honesty, for young people it is often seen as a routine act of socializing.  A research study conducted by a highly respected company, Thorn.org shows that 1 in 5 teenagers report having shared a nude image of themselves.  And 1 in 7 pre-teens have shared a nude image of themselves.   But things have vastly changed in the past 36 months as the entire world has experienced a technology transformation unlike ever seen before in history.  With the capabilities of artificial intelligence to be used to alter images and videos, no one will be safe.  A nude online is an open invitation for ruthless blackmail.  Most apps now have geo location software to pinpoint where an individual is at, and most apps, games and messaging services have money transfer that facilitates easy blackmail and collection of ransoms by organized criminal groups around the globe.   Million Kids has started fund raising for a specialized project to create short and to the point resources for teens and pre teens to understand how to protect themselves against sextortion.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

It seems like nearly every day we hear another story of how A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is being used to in ways we never imagined.  It is hard to tell if that is good news or bad news.  For certain the future, as we know it, will be drastically different.  Your host, Opal Singleton, discusses the impact on how crimes will be perpetrated using A.I.  We will also explore how law enforcement will investigate crimes, and possible ways that legislation will need to change to be able to prosecute underground criminal networks. There are many great uses for Artificial Intelligence that will make our lives, our businesses and our futures more efficient and prosperous.  The challenge is to define how A.I. will be used by criminals to harm innocent individuals.  For instance, what happens when A.I. is used to sexually alter an image of an innocent toddler or young child and those images are circulated around the globe to dark web pedophiles.  The child has not been physically violated but their image will forever be desecrated around the globe.    Obviously our society must quickly understand the impact of how A.I. will change crime, crime solving and crime execution.  We MUST invest in advanced technologies for law enforcement to keep up with the underground criminal activity that is extremely well funded through money laundering and mass perpetration of sexual violation, drug trafficking, smuggling and gun trafficking.  At the same time, there is an urgent need for advocates and legislators to comprehend the challenges of the future for prosecution, prevention and intervention as well as victim assistance. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

There is much discussion these days about how Artificial Intelligence will be used to gather information and generate new information that will influence our thinking, get us to purchase goods, or create images that can be used to blackmail innocent individuals. The Million Kids Team constantly conducts research and we are in the process of creating short form videos and media that will help protect our kids and their families. In the course of that research, we discovered an article that talks about how foreign organizations are creating e-commerce websites for the sole purpose of gathering targeted data and sharing that data with government agencies that are hostile to the U.S.  It is important to understand how individuals, corporations and governments can seduce consumers of ALL ages into providing a vast amount of information through gaming and websites.  According to Cate Cadell of the Washington Post, "an example is the website TEMU -the breakout Chinese shopping app with over 100 million U.S. users and a unit of the Communist Party.  " On this podcast, we will look at how innocent activities online give out significant amount of personal information and how that information can be used for targeted misinformation campaigns and other clandestine activities.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Million Kids has been educating the public about sex trafficking for over 14 years now.  We have seen many changes taking place in how predators and pimps operate, how they recruit innocent victims, and how they control a victim once they have brought them into a life of sex trafficking.  During the past 12 months, we have witnessed historic changes in the crime of sex trafficking in ways that we could not have imagined even three years ago. The scale and scope of sex trafficking in California has reached a level that simply overwhelms the mind.  There are several factors driving these changes.  Over the past 3 years we have experienced an onslaught of sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence, mass audience live streaming, global digital currency, geo location software tied to dating sites, and offshore (bulletproof hosting) servers that masks the identity of site hosting. Each of these technologies empowers the criminal element, and increases the likelihood that a young person can be accessed, groomed, recruited and exploited by pimps, gangs and predators.  At the same time, California created legislation that made it difficult for law enforcement to intervene in loitering for street prostitution as well creating an open border environment where literally millions of individuals are entering our country without proper vetting. Simultaneously, California is host to some of the largest homeless populations in the nation, creating an environment where homeless individuals can be easily exploited by pimps and cartels. Million Kids is committed to continuing to educate and combat sex trafficking in our communities.  With the financial assistance of our donors and their prayer support, together we form a team of experts and advocates, that say enough is enough.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Sextortion has long been recognized as a hideous crime where individuals are lured into sending a nude or illicit image to a salacious new friend online and the blackmail begins.  Historically, sextortion often focused on young girls and that were coerced into continuing to send nude and erotic photos to their online blackmailers.  Those photos were used by underground pedophiles to buy, sell and trade images of pedophilia in the dark web or peer to peer networks.     With the onset of global 5G High Speed Internet connection, the crime of sextortion has become prolific and egregious almost beyond comprehension. Young and old alike are the latest victims of digital financial sextortion.  The financial blackmail often targets young teen males with devastating impact onthe victim and their families.  However, elderly individuals seeking online relationships or to sell timeshare investments can also be easy targets.     A recent Threat Intelligence Report, issued by Network Contagion Research Institute stated that "they have observed an exponential increase in sextortion cases targeting minors and youth on social media platforms over the past 18 months. "  One of the statistics they quoted was based on a national survey in the U.S. "51%of Gen Z teens and young adults said they or their friends were catfished in online sextortion scams resulting in their intimate photos being used against them"   The Million Kids Team find this new development greatly concerning.  There is an urgent need to educate youth and adults about the devastating nature of global digital financial sextortion rings originating out of poor third world countries.  During this podcast, we will address specific activities and how global criminal organizations use apps like Instagram, Snapchat and Wizz to access, groom, entice and exploit young and old alike.  The audience will also be invited to join forces with Million Kids to create programs for prevention and intervention of sextortion.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

THE ACCELERATING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING SENSE OF : MASS AUDIENCE LIVE STREAMING GLOBAL DIGITAL CURRENCY GEO LOCATION SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Gone are the days when our kids talk to only people they know online. The past several months have seen an expansion (and explosion) of technologies that it is hard to keep up with. Mass audience live streaming, global digital currency, artificial intelligence, geo location software impacts our kids and puts them on a global stage communicating with thousands of people they will most likely never meet. To get a grasp of just how big the global online community is Opal did some research. Check this out. Fortnite has 500 Million active accounts. Roblox has 70 million active daily users. Roblox has 300 million monthly active users 60% of Roblox users are under 16 yrs old - 52% are males. Tik Tok has 1.2 Billion users- 150 million users in the U.S. 20% of Tik Tok users in U.S are under 17 yrs. old = 30 million users X (Twitter) has 368 million active users. Reddit has 430 million active users. Snapchat has 750 million active users. This generation of young people will have the greatest challenge to parent of all time. Everyday, our kids go online where they are connected to hundreds of people they have never met. How can they tell if they are talking to a good guy or a bad guy (or girl)? What is the likelihood that child will meet up with an online predator and even more important, what are the chances they will recognize they are talking to a potential criminal and know how to protect themselves? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Recently, the DEA, along with Law Enforcement Agencies in Riverside City and County, announced a major fentanyl bust worth more than $16 million.  "Operation Hotline Bling" dealt a major blow to the Sinaloa Cartels culminating in at least 15 arrests and a monumental seizure of illicit drugs.   According to the DEA, for the first time in history, fatal overdoses reached 112,000 deaths. Young people and people of color being among the hardest hit. According to an article published by Michael McManus for FAIR, fentanyl is rapidly replacing heroin as the drug cartels are using to make money. Fentanyl is attractive to the cartels because of the massive profit margin, with just $50,000 in production costs, generating more than $ 20 million in income. This week's episode looks at the impact of fentanyl, meth and other illicit drugs on our communities, our kids and the homeless population.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

The past two years has brought a plethora of technological advances that is enough to make our heads spin.  Only when you step back and examine all the types of technology advancements can you begin to understand the impact on our day to day lives and how to prepare our young people to live in a global online community.     The FBI and Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center state that there are over 500,000 pedophiles online at any given time.  They also state that more than 50% of victims are ages 12-15 years old. Approximately 90%  of contacts with victims of online sexual exploitation where contacted through chat rooms and instant messaging apps.   This episode, Opal Singleton, the host of "Exploited: Crimes and Technologies" explores the vast array of technology advancements that impact our day to day lives. These include, artificial intelligence, geo location software, digital currency, mass audience live streaming and the explosion of the number of new young users of inexpensive tablets.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Did you know that every week Million Kids publishes all the latest information, stories, trends, technologies, legislation, arrests and prosecutions etc related to sex and labor trafficking and social media exploitation.  It is one of the most comprehensive information resources available for anyone interested in combating these crimes.  To sign up to receive this resource, simply go to www.Millionkids.org and subscribe. Opal Singleton, Host of Exploited: Crimes and Technologies is going to talk about several intriguing scenarios that are in the news.  The BBC just released information gathered by the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) that discovered more than 2000 remotely filmed child abuse images of three to six year old children online.  Many of these images were self-generated where a child is persuaded, coerced, or tricked by a predator into carrying out acts via webcam or handheld device. The research further reveals that a third of parents whose five to seven-year-olds browse social media are allowed to do so alone. The watchdog group “Ofcom” revealed that almost one quarter of children aged five to seven have a smartphone of their own.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Opal Singleton is the author of a book with the same title that shares about how predators use online relationships to create a false narrative about engaging in a caring and supportive relationships, then using that fantasy to groom and exploit their victims.  The basics of online seduction are still the same but technology transformations have greatly accelerated the access to victims, facilitated payment processes for blackmailers, and artificial intelligence now allows the ability to alter images erotically and begin a blackmail process for completely uninvolved and innocent victims.     Global technology connections means that cartels around the globe can access, groom, recruit and exploit our kids.  There is an urgent need for parents and grandparents to help teens (and anyone with an online device) to understand how sending ANY kind of image/video or erotic live streaming can change their lives forever.  What looks like a cute young guy/girl can easily be an organized criminal unit consisting of a chatter and a group of thugs looking to destroy their lives forever.  We must educate everyone, that ANYONE WHO IS ASKING FOR A NUDE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Fear is an interesting emotion.  Fear can be a great motivator or it can paralyze you, or even seduce you into making questionable and knee jerk decisions. With informed and well thought out solutions, fear can keep you safe. Fear can be generated from your own “self talk” like “I am not good enough or I will probably screw this up again”. With 24 hour news and social media we are bombarded by the minute with fear based headlines.  Media of all types have perfected a fear based dictionary using familiar phrases like: A Tragic End No one is Safe Deadly car crash. Celeb speaks out on divorce. Threatens to ouster Shuts down production Inflation is soaring Cost of living is skyrocketing Cancer scare   During this weeks show, Opal Singleton examineS the power of fear. We talk about the need to teach our kids the positive and negatives of fear and how to use it wisely in decision processes.  This is especially important for a generation of young people online that will seduced, manipulated and even threatened online.  Making the right decision online, especially in a time of crisis or threats can be the difference in staying safe online or being compromised.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

There is a new phenomenon that will eventually affect most of our lives, and yet it seems to be getting little attention.  We now live our lives on a global level and while that may have many good advantages, it also comes with a high level likelihood that all of us, including our kids will be exposed to global organized criminal organizations without ever leaving our homes. In the past few months, we have read about thousands of cases where people are being scammed by nefarious telemarketing scams from Mexico, Philippines, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Pakistan.  Few of us understand who they are, how they operate, how to tell if you are talking to a scammer and most important what to do or not do if you become a target of their operations. This week, Opal will discuss four different cases of overseas telemarketing scammers that has changed peoples lives forever. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Never in our lifetime have we as a society experienced so much change related to technology.  The past two years are unprecedented for a technology transformation. Over the past twenty-four to thirty-six months, we have watched as new technologies like mass audience live streaming, artificial intelligence, digital currencies, geo location software, and global 5G high speed internet have created global access to our children, and created a technology complexity that challenges even the most tech savvy parent. During this week's podcast, Opal Singleton discusses a variety of topics, techniques and challenges in creating healthy and informative dialogue about technology with your teenager.  We discuss topics, like: “If your child sent or received a nude image from a someone they know or even a stranger, would they tell you?”. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Tonya Holt is a very special lady who has worked alongside Million Kids for several years in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators. Tonya lives in the Bakersfield, CA area and she and her husband David serve in Oildale at the Church Without Walls. Tonya is a Pastoral Counselor and the area the church serves is rampant with drug use, homelessness and many challenges related to mental health and addiction. Tonya shares her experiences and perspective about how to assist others that may seem challenging to most of us. Tonya is also a credentialed life & recovery coach, and she shares some ideas for parents in how to interact with young people so they will be able to grow up with good cognitive thinking skills and have empathy for others. Here is a list of values that Tonya feels is important to have conversations about with your kids.  Key Things to Teach Kids: Empathy Values What are their Strengths? Dignity Respect for themselves Respect for Others Intuition Finding Purpose & Meaning --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

Adults all over the world ask the same question.  What is it about today's young people that makes them think it is ok to send a “nude” to a total stranger.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports that they have processed more than 30 million potential reports of online child nudity or sexual abuse materials.  After researching many of those report NCMEC states that they researched around 13,000 cases of online blackmail (sextortion) related to images, videos or live streaming of minors with potentially harmful materials online. With the onset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), anyone and everyone is at risk of having a perfectly innocent photo of themselves altered in such a way that a pedophile, predator or organized crime can demand a ransom to remove it.  But the scenario becomes exponentially worse if the young person is seduced into sending or sharing an erotic image or live stream.  As the entire world is connected by high speed 5 G internet, criminal individuals and organized crime can access, groom, recruit and exploit any young person in the U.S. At Million Kids, we have been combating sex trafficking and social media exploitation for nearly 15 years.  We want to share with young people everywhere the following message... IF SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR AN IMAGE OR VIDEO OR LIVESTREAM THAT WOULD EMBARRASS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY IF IT WAS SHOWN ON A BILLBOARD IN YOUR HOMETOWN OR SCHOOL – DON'T DO IT - THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support

According to California Senator Shannon Grove: “California is a hot bed for human trafficking and consistently ranks number one in cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.  Human trafficking is among the world's fastest growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry”.  Southern California often leads the nation in the number of cases. After the passage of SB357 introduced by Senator Scott Weiner (D) and signed by Governor Newsom, California has experienced a huge increase in the number of individuals being brought in from other states and countries to solicit for commercial sex on the our streets, This solicitation often takes place in front of businesses, schools and places of worship.  This bill was labeled the California Safer Streets Act, and frankly nothing could have been further from the truth. Senator Shannon Grove is asking for individuals, organizations and corporations to join with them  to help Sacramento legislators understand and support the effort to make it a felony to solicit, agree to engage in, or engage in any act of commercial sex with a minor.  SB1414 Senator Kelly Seyarto has introduced SB 1219 which will establish the act of loitering in a public place and impeding traffic with the intent to direct or solicit prostitution forms of disorderly conduct.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support