We all know there are big bad corporations out there benefiting from sexual exploitation. But which ones are they? And which ones affect our families the most?
It’s a scary world out there. Right? But we can’t hide under a rock. Or put our kids in a bubble. It’s our job, as parents, to be informed about the dangers that surround our families—and to do something about them.
When it comes to pornography and sexual exploitation, sometimes it can be tricky to identify what’s dangerous. After all, if we run a Google search for “porn” and “danger” and “kids,” who knows what might pop up! Instead, we’re going to give you a cheat sheet called the Dirty Dozen List. Plus, the tools* to take action! (See list below.)
What is the Dirty Dozen List?
Lucky for us, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) has done all the hard work. Every year, they devote the time and talents of their dedicated team to incredible amounts of research on this topic and publish the Dirty Dozen List to let the public know what they’ve found.
The new Dirty Dozen List is always announced in February. The 2020 announcement will be live-streamed in a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 6. Watch it on DirtyDozenList.com—or check back for the current Dirty Dozen anytime, no matter what year it is!
The coolest thing about this list is … it’s not just a blacklist or a bad grade. For many organizations, it’s only the beginning of the story. Many of them actually view their place on the Dirty Dozen List as a motivator for change. VICTORIES are subsequently announced throughout the year. Followed by a huge pat on the back and a blast of positive media coverage from NCOSE on the good deeds these companies have accomplished.
Tune in to our podcast to learn about some of the awesome victories in the past, and find out which companies have made huge efforts to clean up their act!
*DirtyDozenList.com includes a huge assortment of tools for the community to get involved, including:
- pre-written tweets,
- memes,
- articles to read and share,
- petitions, and more.
What do we tell the kids?
So … now to the good stuff! We had so much fun interviewing Jake Roberson, creative director and digital guru at NCOSE. He is also a father of four, so he definitely identifies 100% with our mission here at Parents Aware and Media Savvy Moms.
We had a great chat about digital parenting. And Jake reminded us that even though there is a dangerous side to technology, we can use tech to enrich our relationships with our kids too.
So although we’re talking about the Dirty Dozen List, pornography and all the scary “bad guys” out in the world, it’s important to keep an attitude of hope in our home.
The point of the Dirty Dozen is to focus on what we can do to help. How can we #UseTech4Good, and view this list as a launching point to take action? This is an important part of building “tech positive” experiences for our families.
Related: Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood Fighting Pornography?
Check out this epic example of Jake blending tech and parenting in a thinking-outside-the-box method to calm his 4-month-old son, and listen to the interview to hear what he had to say about it.
Which of the Dirty Dozen affects our kids?
Of course, out of the TWELVE companies on the Dirty Dozen List, all of the offenders are not necessarily created equal when it comes to our kids. After all, some of them might be dating apps, or involve adult content that they just don’t have access to … yet. (Whew!)
So, we quizzed Jake about which ones we DO need to watch out for. And again, as a dad himself, he had great perspective.
One of the big offenders was Google, which has been on the list several times before. This is not a big surprise, since Google has so many different arms to keep track of. But this year NCOSE is specifically calling Google out for unfiltered Chromebooks in schools.
YES!!!! When we heard this, we wanted to jump up and hoot for joy! This is such a huge issue for so many families. Tune in to the show to hear what else Jake had to say about the Google agenda.
Related: Do Schools Encourage Students to View Pornography?
There’s another big offender on the Dirty Dozen List that parents need to be aware of. It’s an app that’s super popular among kids. The problem is parental controls are minimal to non-existent. This makes the app a playground for predators. Can you guess what it is? Listen to our interview to find out!
Episode challenge
We actually have two challenges in this episode. Of course, the most obvious one is to go and take a peek at DirtyDozenList.com. See if you can find an action item that tickles your fancy. Sign a petition or share a pre-written tweet on the issue. Make a difference!
Then … just for fun … take the “Dubsmash Challenge.” Did you watch the video above that Jake created with his kids? He’s thrown down the gauntlet and challenged you to make one too. You can use the Dubsmash app to create one of these (or something else fun with digital media) with your kids! Then tag Jake and us on social media @mediasavvymoms and @ncose. We’d love to comment on your masterpiece.
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More about today’s guest
Jake Roberson is the director of digital strategy and PR for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. His job is to utilize digital media to reach, engage, convert, develop, and activate new allies for the fight to end sexual exploitation in all its forms. Prior to his work with NCOSE, Jake spent five years running social media strategy for Focus on the Family. When his work-life balance is in tune, Jake spends his time with his wife and four children attempting to convince them to enjoy his favorite hobbies (pickup sports, pop culture, and podcasting) in the few spare moments that aren’t filled with tending to their dreams, passions, and fights over who established possession over the toy first.
Links/Resources
National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Resources for Parents (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)
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