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Executive Summary

In an effort to strategically inform technology
initiatives for combating domestic minor sex
trafficking (DMST), Thorn partnered with
Dr. Vanessa Bouché at Texas Christian University
to survey survivors about their experiences.
The survey focused on understanding what
role technology played in a victim’s recruitment
into, time while in, and exit from DMST.
Two hundred and sixty survivors of DMST,
through 24 survivor organizations, spanning
14 states, completed the survey.
The majority of participants identified as female
(98%), 2% as male, and 1% as “other”.1
Sixty-seven percent identified as heterosexual, 25% bisexual,
5% homosexual, 2% “other”, and 1% “don’t know”.
Among those identifying race (n=243), 45%
reported African American, 27% Caucasian,
21% Hispanic, and 8% “other”

Two central themes emerged from
survey responses:

Technology is playing an increasing role in
grooming and controlling victims of DMST.
Less familiar forms of DMST, including those
trafficked by family members or without a
clear trafficker, emerged in the DMST
landscape. However, consistent in all types of
DMST observed are common experiences
of childhood abuse and neglect

These themes suggest an important
understanding about the nature of DMST and
the role of technology. The need for human
connection, and the vulnerabilities that arise
in the absence thereof, are central to the
recruitment, control, and recovery of DMST
survivors. Use of technology is likely to continue
to increase; however, technology is unlikely to
extinguish the human element of DMST.