Exploitation is the act of treating someone unfairly for personal gain or benefit. Exploitation can take many different forms. 

Here are the main types of exploitation to look out for:

Sexual Exploitation happens when a child or teenager is tricked, pressured, or forced into performing a sexual act for something in return.

Example: a new friend tells you they’ll buy you concert tickets if you send them nude photos.

Peer to Peer Exploitation happens when a young person is exploited by another person in the same age group.

Example: a friend or group of friends pressures you into performing a sexual act to gain their respect. You feel like if you don’t do it, they won’t want to hang out with you anymore.

Another example: a friend or peer starts to give you gifts, or starts showing off a new luxury lifestyle (expensive clothes, a new high-end phone, etc). This peer invites you and your friends to a party, where you are asked to exchange a sexual favor or try something in exchange for money. This peer may be trying to recruit you or target you for exploitation.

Online Exploitation happens when a young person is exploited through any online platform.

Example: a person you met in a gaming chat tells you they know a cheat code. They tell you that they’ll give it to you in exchange for naked photos.

Family-Supported Exploitation happens when exploitation is normalized, or accepted within your family. 

Example: you feel uncomfortable about a friend or partner pressuring you into a sexual act. When you tell a parent or relative, they shrug it off or act like this is normal.

Another example: you experience exploitation at the hands of a family member. You might not recognize it as exploitation right away because you have grown up with it. Or, you may have seen another family member being exploited to fill a basic need, such as food or shelter.

Partner Exploitation happens when someone you are dating uses love to force you into an exploitative situation.

Example: your partner tells you that “if you really loved them” you would do a certain sexual act.

Another example: you get into a relationship with someone who seems trustworthy. Early in the relationship, they showered you with gifts and affection. Suddenly, they tell you that everything you thought was given was not actually free, and now they expect payment. You may be forced to perform sexual acts as a form of payment, or in exchange for money to pay back your exploiter.

Survival exploitation is when you are in a situation where you have no other option but to exchange a sexual act in return for a basic need, such as food, shelter, or clothing.

Example: you are in a situation where your housing is uncertain. You may have been kicked out of your home, or find yourself couch surfing. Someone offers you housing in exchange for sexual favors. Even though you may know that this person is trying to exploit you, you feel you have no other choice but to agree to it. 

Sextortion often looks and feels like blackmail.  

Example: you send nude photos to one person, and they threaten to share those photos with other people unless you give them something, or do something for them.

Gangs: youth associated with gang members can be forced into the sex trade and can later be used to recruit other youth for the gang.

Grooming is a process where someone does whatever they have to do to get you to trust them so they can exploit you. It can look like someone being extremely or overly affectionate with you or buying you lots of expensive gifts for no apparent reason. 

Recruitment is the process of targeting someone with the intention of exploiting them.