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Stop. Question. Verify. Human Trafficking Myths versus Facts
In collaboration with the ATC and Expose Excellence Youth Program

Human trafficking is surrounded by myths, misinformation, and oversimplified narratives that shape how the public understands this crime and how communities respond to it. Headlines, movies, viral posts, and repeated statistics often create a version of trafficking that feels dramatic but misses the truth.

Stop. Question. Verify. Human Trafficking Myths versus Facts brings clarity to one of the most misunderstood issues of our time by breaking down common myths and replacing them with evidence-based facts, local context, and responsible messaging.

This video addresses several widespread misconceptions, including:

The misuse and repetition of sensational statistics

Confusion between human trafficking and human smuggling

The belief that trafficking only happens in big cities or “somewhere else”

The myth that trafficking usually involves kidnapping or physical force

The harmful assumption that victims can “just leave” or will always ask for help

The video explains why trafficking data is difficult to measure and how the Woozle Effect, the repetition of unverified claims, has allowed inaccurate numbers to spread and influence public perception, policy decisions, and funding priorities. It highlights why responsible communication matters and how exaggeration can undermine credibility, distort prevention efforts, and leave real victims unseen.

Viewers also learn the critical legal and practical differences between trafficking and smuggling, why trafficking occurs in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike, and how vulnerabilities, not geography, drive exploitation. Real-world examples demonstrate that trafficking is not confined to one place, one population, or one narrative.

Most importantly, this video centers the lived realities of victims. Trafficking is rarely obvious. It often involves grooming, coercion, psychological control, economic pressure, and trauma bonds rather than visible force. Many victims do not self-identify due to fear, shame, manipulation, or threats, which is why relying on stereotypes leads to missed opportunities for identification and support.

Key message:
Accurate information saves lives.
Misinformation hides harm.

By stopping before we share, questioning what we think we know, and verifying facts with credible sources, communities become better equipped to prevent trafficking, recognize warning signs, and respond with compassion and accountability.

This video invites viewers to move beyond myths and toward understanding because truth, not hype, is what creates real change.

📞 National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
💬 Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
🌐 humantraffickinghotline.org