Tennessee Sees Record Surge in Child Exploitation Cases, TBI Warns
Children in Tennessee are being exploited at an alarming rate, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The state has recorded three new cases in just the last 48 hours, reflecting a disturbing upward trend that authorities say shows no sign of slowing down.
“I don’t see the numbers retreating any time soon,” said Andrew Boatman, Commander of the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. “As long as people have more access to technology and more ability to exploit that, they’re going to do so.”
Just one month ago, the TBI reported a 140% increase in child exploitation cases statewide. These crimes include the abuse or manipulation of children for another person’s gain, often through coercion or online enticement to engage in sexual or criminal activity.
Boatman says the surge is being fueled primarily by social media, which has become the most common tool predators use to reach children. “Social media is the big driver in the expansion of online child exploitation,” he explained. “It’s simply because that’s where the children are.”
The issue is not limited to Tennessee. Boatman notes that this is a nationwide crisis, with one of the fastest-growing forms being financial sexual exploitation, where predators convince children to share explicit material, then threaten to release it unless the affected children send more or pay money. These perpetrators often pose as friends or acquaintances, exploiting trust and familiarity.
“There are no bad apps versus good apps in this field,” Boatman warned. “It’s any piece of technology your child has access to; someone is going to try to exploit them there.”
An Epidemic Hidden in Plain Sight
April Timko, Executive Director of Street Hope TN, an organization that supports children who have been trafficked, said the scale of the problem is staggering.
“Thompson-Boling Arena seats almost 22,000 people,” Timko said. “Imagine every seat filled with a child between the ages of 12 and 17 — that’s how many are being exploited right now in our state.”
Street Hope TN operates the first and only safe home in East Tennessee for children who have experienced trafficking. Timko says that social media remains the main gateway predators use to access children. With more time spent online, especially on mobile devices and gaming platforms, children are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation and coercion.
Parents on the Frontline of Protection
Both Boatman and Timko agree that the fight against exploitation begins at home. Parents are urged to monitor their children’s online lives as closely as their real-world interactions.
“The most important thing parents can do is keep an open line of communication with their children,” Timko emphasized. “Ask questions about what they’re doing online, where they are setting up profiles, and who they’re talking to. Children need to know they can come to you without fear.”
Boatman echoed that message: “For younger generations, their online community is their real-life community. Parents need to understand that.”
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), every child has the right to be protected from harm, exploitation, and abuse. Every click, message, and digital interaction must be viewed through this lens of protection.
