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Let's take the opportunity to debunk the #LizardSquad idiocy with actual data on #childabuse, how often it happens, what it looks like, and who commits it.
First, a page full of legitimate, trusted, credible sources: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/resources.html
First, a page full of legitimate, trusted, credible sources: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/resources.html
Directly from that page, verbatim, one of the leading factors contributing to child abuse is poverty: "Rates of child abuse and neglect are 5 times higher for children in families with low socio-economic status compared to children in families with higher socio-economic status."
The @CDCgov and other #publichealth organizations recognize child abuse and neglect as involving several actions or omissions: physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, and neglect to the point of harm, as when a parent refuses to take a child to the doctor or to feed them.
One of the greatest concerns of #publichealth and #mentalhealth providers is that child abuse tends to leave permanent emotional scars. The acronym used to refer to these is " #ACEs", for Adverse Childhood Experiences. The damage lasts long into adulthood. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fviolenceprevention%2Facestudy%2Ffastfact.html
#ACEs create children who are frightened or emotionally vulnerable, often easily victimized again.
#ACEs also create adults with lifelong physical and mental health problems, including #alcoholism, #substanceabuse, heart disease and depression.
#ACEs also create adults with lifelong physical and mental health problems, including #alcoholism, #substanceabuse, heart disease and depression.
What are the things that make #childabuse more likely to happen? They are often, if not always, societal, things that can be mitigated by a strong social safety net.
When it comes to sexual #childabuse, the Lizard People are not real. There is no global cabal. The perpetrators of sexual abuse of children are people they already know.
91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone familiar to the child or child’s family.
91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone familiar to the child or child’s family.
From 2018 statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, @HHSGov, who commits child abuse, down to the smallest group. "Other" might comprise strangers, and it's 2.6% of the total.
Why do I care about this?
Because I survived childhood sexual abuse. At the hands of a parent.
I've spent decades in therapy, gone through more drugs than I can count trying to fight #depression, #anxiety, and the tendency to self-harm.
It angers me to see the conspiracy nuts.
Because I survived childhood sexual abuse. At the hands of a parent.
I've spent decades in therapy, gone through more drugs than I can count trying to fight #depression, #anxiety, and the tendency to self-harm.
It angers me to see the conspiracy nuts.
Because the people who spout #LizardSquad conspiracy theories deflect attention from the real problem: parents, family members, family friends are the most likely perpetrators of #childabuse.
Not global cabals.
Not strangers.
Kids know their abusers, but they aren't believed.
Not global cabals.
Not strangers.
Kids know their abusers, but they aren't believed.
Why do people want, so very much, to believe in the global cabal conspiracy theories? Why does the #LizardSquad get more attention than the reality of #childabuse?
I don't know. Maybe it's because it feels more exciting to think it's something James Bond could solve.
I don't know. Maybe it's because it feels more exciting to think it's something James Bond could solve.
So how do we stop #childabuse?
Through the very kinds of social programs the @GOP loathes--those that fight poverty, that encourage gender equity, that address education and socio-economic status. Income inequality. Unemployment.
Not retweeting fringe conspiracy theories.
Through the very kinds of social programs the @GOP loathes--those that fight poverty, that encourage gender equity, that address education and socio-economic status. Income inequality. Unemployment.
Not retweeting fringe conspiracy theories.
