Despite growing attention to child exploitation, professionals often lack insight into how financial exploitation affects young people, and crucially, what they themselves think about it.
A recent report from The Children’s Society centres the experiences and perspectives of those directly impacted, offering valuable lessons for professionals across social care.
What was said by Young People
1. The Social Media Trap
- Scam posts promising “quick cash” are common on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, especially when promoted by influencers or verified accounts.
- These posts often showcase luxury lifestyles, making them more appealing.
- Many young people don’t report such scams because they believe nothing will change.
2. Lacklustre Education
- Financial exploitation is rarely addressed in schools; assemblies often focus on other issues like knife crime.
- Young people want engaging, interactive education, such as plays or real-life stories, and believe it should start in primary school.
3. Distrust of Professionals
- Some fear being treated as criminals if they report exploitation, particularly when banks freeze accounts or investigations stall.
- Past negative experiences with police add to this distrust.
- A friendly, youth-worker style approach is preferred over formal enforcement.
4. Emotional Impact
- Feelings of fear, entrapment, embarrassment, and guilt are common.
- Exploitation often starts small but escalates as threats grow.
- Some feel forced to continue and even consider carrying weapons to protect themselves or loved ones.
5. What Support They Need
- Holistic, trauma-informed help without judgment.
- Mental health support to address emotional harm.
- Peer connections to reduce isolation.
- Consistent guidance across schools, homes, and financial services.
- Clear reassurance: “You are safe. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
Key Takeaways for Social Care Practice
| Insight | Suggested Response |
|---|---|
| Education often skips financial exploitation | Integrate age-appropriate, interactive learning from primary school onward |
| Young people distrust formal systems | Train professionals in empathetic, peer-style engagement |
| Emotional burdens are heavy | Offer mental health and peer-led emotional support |
| Victim-blaming language persists | Use respectful, empowering language—avoid terms like “money mule” |
Conclusion
The Children’s Society’s findings make one thing clear: young people’s voices are vital in tackling financial exploitation. They are calling for compassion, practical education, and consistent support. Listening to and acting on these insights can help social care professionals build trust, deliver effective interventions, and safeguard young people’s dignity.
Source & Credit:
This blog post is based on Tackling Financial Exploitation: Youth Voice Insights by The Children’s Society. You can read the full resource here: The Children’s Society – Tackling Financial Exploitation.
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