Americans have a long history of falling prey to moral panics, with various fears gripping the nation at different times. From the Red Scare to the Satanic Panic, these moral panics have often revolved around harm to children. However, in recent years, the focus has shifted to a moral panic surrounding sex trafficking rings, particularly those involving consensual sex workers who advertised legally on the internet.
The current obsession with child sex trafficking, fueled by conspiracy theories like QAnon and Pizzagate, has deep roots in a moral panic that was hyped by powerful figures across the political spectrum. The crescendo of this panic came with the federal indictments related to Backpage.com, a classifieds site that became known for adult advertising.
Backpage emerged as a central platform for adult ads after Craigslist bowed to pressure and removed its adult section. Backpage’s rise and fall were explored in a documentary podcast series titled “Hold Fast: The Unadulterated Story of the World’s Most Scandalous Website.” The saga revealed how politicians exploited the moral panic surrounding sex trafficking for political gain.
The Backpage story serves as a cautionary tale of overzealous prosecutions and the unintended consequences of moral panics. It highlights how cynical politicians can manipulate public fears for their benefit. The narrative traces the evolution of adult advertising from alt-weeklies to online platforms like Craigslist and Backpage, showing how the crackdown on these ads led to the proliferation of conspiracy theories like QAnon.
Conspiracy theories thrive on kernels of truth, and in the case of sex trafficking, they have been fueled by a conflation of sex trafficking with consensual sex work. While sex trafficking is a serious issue, the hysteria surrounding it has led to harmful misinformation and misguided policies.
The crackdown on Backpage and similar platforms through laws like FOSTA-SESTA has not eradicated sex trafficking but has made it more difficult for law enforcement to track cases of exploitation. The narrative surrounding sex trafficking has also shifted to smaller online platforms and social media sites, where sex workers continue to operate using ambiguous language.
The moral panic surrounding sex trafficking has had far-reaching effects, giving rise to conspiracy theories and misinformation that pervade American society. Politicians have capitalized on these fears to push their agendas, often at the expense of vulnerable populations. The story of Backpage serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of moral panics and the manipulation of public sentiment for political gain.
In conclusion, the moral panic surrounding sex trafficking has had profound implications for American society, fueling conspiracy theories and misinformation. By understanding the roots of these panics and their real-world consequences, we can work towards addressing the issue of exploitation while avoiding the pitfalls of hysteria and fearmongering.