Sexual grooming is extremely common and dangerous. Know the signs and if you think you are being groomed or someone around you is, please seek help by calling a hotline or the proper authorities

Grooming is the act of developing an exploitative relationship with children, or vulnerable young people in order to manipulate and abuse them.

Victims can be groomed by anyone. Groomers can be people the victim already knows, or even strangers on the internet.

If the groomer is someone the victim knows in real life, chances are that they will have manipulated friends and family of the victim as well, in order to appear “harmless” and “trustworthy.”

Grooming is often a slow process in which the groomer bides their time and works hard to make the victim feel “special” and “not like the others.”

Groomers use different tactics to make the victim feel at ease so that they let their guard down and divulge their secrets. The groomer will then use the information to blackmail or manipulate them so that they can sexually abuse the victims.

These days, when children are introduced to the internet, it’s important to have a conversation about the dangers of the internet, and build a relationship with them so that they feel comfortable coming to you for advice, should a questionable character try to contact them.

Groomers also target young people, usually those who are just out of high school. Young people need to be cautious, especially when applying for a job, as groomers are frequently in positions of power, and may sexually exploit those working under them.

Workplaces also need to do their long due part and put measures in place to make their employees feel safe, and to ensure that groomers are identified and removed from their powerful positions.

Those who are groomed often don’t speak up because they feel they may be ostracized or that they will be blamed for something that is not their fault.

Groomers can often be charismatic and influential figures within the community, which may make victims fearful of any repercussions they may face by speaking out.

If you know or suspect that someone is being groomed, please reach out to the relevant authorities. Speaking up is the only way that we can help stop groomers from victimizing more people.