By: Jan Edwards, President of the Paving the Way Foundation JANET EDWARDS PAVING THE WAY Since the beginning of the school year, we’ve been educating thousands of 7th graders on human trafficking, online exploitation, and tactics predators use to exploit them. Through these trainings, we discovered a disturbing trend that we initially thought was an isolated incident. We discuss vulnerabilities that make children more susceptible to exploitation, such as feeling lonely, seeking love in the wrong places, receiving unsolicited messages or photos from strangers, and being angry or frustrated with family. In our first school, 100% of students reported feeling upset or angry, and three-quarters had considered running away. Initially, we thought this was an isolated case, but this trend has repeated in school after school across the country. We’ve spoken with principals and educators in other areas, and their students are experiencing the same challenges. What convinced me this is a global issue was a conversation we had with a team from India, who reported seeing the same troubling signs in their youth. This reinforced the idea that we are on the brink of a crisis. The world is changing rapidly. While global conflicts and social movements aren’t new, the difference now is constant access to violent and distressing content, 24/7, and the overwhelming sense of division amplified by algorithms. Additionally, many young people seem to lack resilience in the face of adversity. They’re missing emotional regulation skills—something essential for navigating difficult emotions and understanding that feelings like anger or frustration aren’t permanent. Our children are angry and confused, often feeling unseen and unheard. This frustration has led to increases in self-harm, gang violence, and depression. It’s far beyond typical teenage behavior. We’re entering a “danger zone” that demands urgent attention from families, educators,...... Read more on Full Issue!