There are so many predatory men out there

[ElsaMars]

For some reason, Facebook reels keeps bringing up those Peodophile hunter clips, I have no idea why, I usually watch cat videos!

I scroll past, but it's shocked me just how many men there are who contact children online, with a view to meet them. There are literally hundreds of these videos (in the UK) with all ages of normal looking men.

I have no idea what I want out of this post but I find it absolutely terrifying and I'm left feeling almost suspicious and paranoid about any man. Its bloody sad.

There was an instragram 'mom' who documented her daughters childhood, dressed her up, took pics of her as toddler in a lil bikini on beach etc, she was popular and got hundreds of thousands of views. Someone analysed who was viewing it and there were multiple anon accounts or middle aged men with no post history. it was pointed out to her that there are likely peados following her page. Didn't stop her though as she was making dosh

If he knows how to dig out these materials he will know how to search for help but they don't want help.

Just not true. Some (most certainly not all :( ) do realise what they are feeling is wrong and want to look for help. But how do they dare to, know what they will be facing?

I don't know what the answer is but some indeed do want help. The deluge of hate they receive is completely understandable but it means that the only place where they can talk about it is the dark web or the terrible groups on Telegram or Signal and they only get encouraged into worse behaviour there. There isn't support to draw back from it.

https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/

Also disagree with those pointing to algorithm - it really does seem to be prolific among men.

Lots of tweens and teens post selfies and dance videos etc on Instagram and TikTok, so the problem of unwanted messaging from predatory men must be enormous there.

I’ve watched some nonce stings on FB. They’re a mixed bag, but some are good, and it’s great if overall they have a deterrent effect.

But if it sends these men looking on the dark web for illegal images / videos instead then it’s just as bad, possibly even worse if they connect with other nonces and see terrible things.

Also what about the damage to any children of the nonce, going through school being bullied for it? When after all their dad was talking to an adult just pretending to be a child. So the real victims are the nonce’s own family. Yes he’s brought it on himself but the decoy has also responded in a way an actual child wouldn’t have.

I googled it and saw there have been academic studies of these stings. One finding was that the decoys (adults pretending to be children to snare the nonce) will stay in a conversation longer than an actual child would.

So the decoy is going along with a sexual situation that most actual children would have shut down. Perhaps I’m missing the point though and the nonces look out for the rare child who would have been susceptible to it.

You can tell Facebook you don't want to see these posts - click hide, or show less, or not interested, I can't remember the option exactly, whenever they come up. I share a name with someone in the football world and it kept showing me football related posts. I have no interest in football. I had to persist in telling them I wasn't interested and eventually the posts went away.

I think they are everywhere. It's a subject very close to home for my family.
But even as a grown woman men seem to think they can act how they like, I've cut a friend of my dh off as he wouldn't take no for an answer in a situation and it's really triggered some horrible anxiety when his name is mentioned now. Why should they be allowed to do this

That’s great that there is somewhere, it looks like they work with a broad spectrum of agencies.