Grooming 101 (Awareness post)
Grooming is a method used by offenders that involves building trust with a child, teen, or adult with the intent to gain alone time and create a relationship built on manipulation. Offenders often use grooming as a prelude to committing sexual assault or otherwise abusing an individual. (source)
What do predators look for in victims?
Low self-esteem or self-confidence
Busy, unavailable, toxic, or abusive parents (if a minor)
Neglected and in need of emotional support
Lack of supervision online (if a minor)
Otherwise vulnerable or lacking support
Identifying and targeting a victim
Sexualizing the relationship
Red flags someone may be grooming you:
Giving you special attention: spending more time with you than other people, giving lots of compliments, offering extra help or time, buying a lot of gifts or treats, helping you with homework, giving you rides to places; generally giving you a lot of attention and affection
Trying to spend a lot of time alone with you, without anyone else around
Telling you to keep a lot of things secret
Trying to gain your trust: offering advice, offering to be there for you, giving you lots of compliments and validation, giving you special treatment, revealing personal information about themself, pretending to be interested in the same things you're interested in
Filling some need you have (including emotional)
Trying to gain the trust of those around you or your shared community
Isolating you: telling you that they're uniquely trustworthy (unlike everyone else), saying that they're the only one you can turn to for some things, telling you not to talk to other people, guilting you or getting jealous when you talk to other people
Pushing boundaries to see how much they can get away with: disregarding your limits, pushing you to do things you don't want to do (even innocuous things)
Gradually introducing sexually explicit conversations or touching you (e.g. hugging you) despite your discomfort
Threats to share private information, hurt you, or hurt themselves
Signs and symptoms of grooming abuse:
Behavior changes (e.g. becoming less outgoing, wearing different clothes)
Sleep disturbances (e.g. insomnia or nightmares)
Decreased interest in school, work, friends, or hobbies
Change in academic or professional performance
More unexplained health issues, such as headaches or stomach issues
Feeling like you can't tell other people things about your relationship
It may feel like falling in love
What to do if you are being groomed:
Tell people: tell any friend or family member who you trust to support you
Save evidence: take screenshots of messages, usernames, dates, requests for secrecy or images
Report them: report them on all platforms and file a report to local authorities (for online, use the national cyber tipline)
Cut them off: block them on all platforms. Increase security by changing your passwords and enabling 2-factor authentication, as well as changing your username if you feel it's necessary
Do not confront them! This can make the situation worse or provoke them to lash out.
You can get support at RAINN's national sexual assault hotline.
What to do if you think someone you know is being groomed:
Speak up: Tell the potential victim why you think the situation is unhealthy, and express your concern.
Stay on their side and show that you'll keep supporting them even if they don't listen to you or take your advice. Make efforts to stay in contact with them and spend time with them.
Do not directly confront the suspected abuser/predator. This can make the abuse worse.
Keep a record of suspected grooming behavior in as much detail as possible: dates, names, clear descriptions, and save any evidence.
If necessary/appropriate, report to local authorities.
You can get support at RAINN's national sexual assault hotline.
https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Grooming-Behavior
https://www.pollyklaas.org/how-to-recognize-signs-of-grooming-by-predators/
https://www.familyeducation.com/kids/safety/signs-of-child-grooming-and-abuse
https://rainn.org/get-the-facts-about-sexual-violence/get-the-facts-about-grooming/
https://rainn.org/get-the-facts-about-sexual-violence/get-the-facts-about-grooming/
https://helpingsurvivors.org/faq/grooming-warning-signs/
https://endsexualviolencect.org/grooming-101-how-to-spot-it-how-to-stop-it/