Ariel Winter Puts Her Life On The Line To Help Catch Online Child Predators

Ariel Winter, greatest recognized for her position as Alex Dunphy on “Trendy Household,” has taken on a robust new position off-screen.

The 27-year-old actress has teamed up with the nonprofit group SOSA (Protected from On-line Intercourse Abuse) to assist fight the ever-growing drawback of on-line predators concentrating on younger kids.

Ariel Winter has participated in an undercover sting operation for SOSA’s true crime docuseries, “SOSA Undercover,” the place she performed the position of a 12-year-old lady to catch predators trying to use minors on-line.

Reflecting on her personal experiences within the leisure business with Daily Mail, she shared, “It’s positively cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, figuring out that I could make a distinction.”

The actress continued, explaining that though pretending to be a 12-year-old and interacting with older males will be intimidating, the work is invaluable. “It’s validating to place away predators which have been harming kids.”

SOSA, a nonprofit devoted to defending minors from on-line sexual exploitation, companions immediately with legislation enforcement to conduct undercover operations aimed toward figuring out and arresting youngster predators.

In line with Winter, the necessity for such operations is dire. “Rising up within the leisure business, I have been the lady we try to save lots of,” she mentioned. “It is important to me to assist shield younger ladies from the experiences I endured in my very own life.”

The hazards of on-line predators have by no means been extra prevalent, as platforms like social media, gaming apps, and photo-sharing websites make kids and youths extra susceptible than ever. Winter defined the problem of discovering these predators, noting how they typically use false identities and thoroughly conceal their true intentions.

“Discovering somebody is difficult as a result of they don’t use their actual identify or deal with, and now we have to do analysis into who these persons are,” she defined. “I used to be stunned by the quantity of males on the market seeking to discuss to younger ladies. It’s tons of of 1000’s of males.”

Probably the most stunning realizations for Winter was the normalcy of the predators’ appearances.

“These males don’t appear to be predators. They appear to be the man subsequent door. They’re normally married with kids and have pets. They appear good as a result of they discuss their on a regular basis life, however they’re attempting to satisfy with a 12-year-old lady,” Winter shared.

She recalled one occasion the place a person in his 40s tried to take an 11-year-old lady searching for a brand new bra. “That’s not regular. It’s not good.”

The emotional toll of Winter’s involvement in these operations has been substantial.

“This complete expertise has been heartbreaking as a result of I consider how younger these ladies are and so they’re being approached by a lot older males,” she mentioned earlier than expressing concern for younger ladies who are sometimes lonely and switch to the web for companionship, solely to fall prey to predators.

“Youngsters search for on-line relationships as a result of they’re lonely or bored after which they discover a male and suppose that they will hook up with them, not realizing they’re a lot older and are literally predators with unhealthy intentions,” Winter mentioned.

Winter’s journey into this work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences. Having entered the leisure business at a younger age, she recalled receiving inappropriate messages from older males as early as when she was on a laptop computer or cellular phone.

“The film and TV business is a darkish place,” Winter mentioned, noting how the trauma she skilled led her to hunt remedy.

Her partnership with SOSA is part of her ongoing dedication to serving to forestall such abuse. “I like working with SOSA as a result of it’s ladies serving to ladies,” she mentioned, emphasizing her dedication to persevering with this work for so long as she will.

Roo Powell, founding father of SOSA, praised Winter’s efforts, acknowledging that her assist is important for the nonprofit.