Vulnerable populations

Victims can be from any race, socio-economic background, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or family situation.* Common vulnerabilities include:

• Youth that believe online communities are the only places they feel they can be their “true selves.” 
  • LBGTQ+ youth are more likely to respond to messages from new connections online and were roughly 2x as likely to say they had shared something with an online friend they had never shared with another friend.
• Youth with the belief that “I am damaged goods” or have low self-esteem. 
  • Foster and homeless youth
  • Youth with a history of sexual abuse
• Youth with the desire to or pressure from others to “fit in”, to be accepted, to be popular, and to be loved.
• Youth that are lonely, depressed, feeling isolated or even bored.
• Youth that has a desperate need for others to “take care of me” as they look for a surrogate parent figure. 
• Youth who takes risks to get attention or “easy money.”

Risk and Protective factors

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