The Dark Side of the Superbowl - Keeping Our Children Safe From Human Trafficking

a young man sits on the floor looking up at his oppressor

With Super Bowl LVII in town this week, it's an exciting time of year for sports fans and everyone here in the greater Phoenix area. It’s a day to get together with family and friends, enjoy some snacks, watch the game, and perhaps even place a bet or two. According to Glendale Economic Development and 2015 Super Bowl Committee, the last time Arizona hosted the Super Bowl was in 2015 it generated $719,000,000 in revenue and brought in more than 120,000 visitors. But while the Super Bowl offers plenty of opportunities for tourism, economic growth, and just overall fun, it also brings an increased risk of human trafficking. This issue is particularly pertinent in Arizona, where the Super Bowl will be held this year. Here’s what parents and educators should know about teen safety during this big event and how to prevent human trafficking at-risk behavior among our children.

Human Trafficking During Big Events

Unfortunately, large public events like the Super Bowl often provide an opportunity for human traffickers to target vulnerable individuals—including minors—for exploitation. Human trafficking involves exploiting someone through force, fraud, or coercion in order to make money or gain power over them. During big events like the Super Bowl, traffickers have been known to target vulnerable teens who are looking for adventure or trying to escape home life. You may think that only our young women are at risk, but young boys, LGBTQ youth, migrant Working communities, the Homeless and people with developmental disabilities are often targeted. To read more about vulnerable populations click Here.

At-Risk Behaviors

There are certain behaviors that can put teens at greater risk for human trafficking during the Super Bowl weekend. These behaviors include: going out alone late at night; accepting rides from strangers; engaging in drug use; and not understanding their own value as an individual. If your child is exhibiting any of these behaviors during the week leading up to or following the Super Bowl, it’s important to talk to them about why they may be engaging in these dangerous activities and how you can help them stay safe from predators who may be targeting them for exploitation. Also, look out for self-trafficking. With dating websites and the popularity of sugar daddy platforms that offer an exchange of money, goods or services for a 'date' it's easy to overlook the predatory nature of these exchanges.

Preventative Measures

As parents, here are some preventative measures you can take steps now to ensure our children stay safe throughout the week (and beyond). First and foremost, ensure that your child knows their full name (including middle name), address, phone number, age/birthdate and other important information like parents’ names so they can easily identify themselves if necessary. This information may seem basic and you might assume your child knows this information, but please double-check. Additionally, make sure your child has access to emergency contacts (parents/guardians/cousins/aunties/friends) that they can call if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any situation. Finally, discuss with your child how they should handle different situations that could arise – such as being approached by a stranger, or being asked to participate in risky behaviors – so they know exactly what to do if something occurs unexpectedly.

The risk of human trafficking increases significantly during large public events like the Super Bowl weekend in Arizona this year. Parents and educators should take measures now—such as talking to kids about at-risk behaviors—to ensure our children remain safe throughout this exciting time of year. By taking proactive steps now we can all work together towards preventing human trafficking from occurring at these large events so no one falls victim to its devastating effects ever again!

If you suspect trafficking please report it, every piece of information is helpful.

Report Human Trafficking in Arizona

Report Human Trafficking Anywhere in the US

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How to Figure Out What You Want in Life (Without the Overwhelm)

By Alex Koupal • April 16, 2025

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Tiktok, Social Media & Teens: How to guide without just saying, "Get off your phone!"

By Alex Koupal • April 9, 2025

Let’s be real: telling teens to “get off your phone!” doesn’t work. Social media is part of their world. For our teens, social media is how they connect, learn, and express themselves. So how can we help them use it wisely without sounding and being the villain? There’s a way to help them navigate social media mindfully, and no, it doesn’t involve a complete ban. 1. Start the Conversation, Not the Battle Instead of becoming the enemy and banning social media out of the blue, talk to your teen about what they’re doing on it. Is it for learning, creativity, or just entertainment? Understanding their “why” helps guide them to use it more purposefully. 2. Set Healthy Boundaries Together Instead of enforcing rules, involve your teen in setting healthy screen-time limits. It gives them ownership and responsibility over their habits. For example, “I’ll spend 30 minutes scrolling up on TikTok after school, and then I’ll switch to doing homework” can be a much better strategy than enforcing a rigid rule that feels like punishment. When your teen has a say in the boundaries, they’re more likely to stick to them. 3. Be a Role Model What adults do, Teens do! If we’re glued to our phones, constantly checking social media, it sends the message that it’s okay to get lost in the digital world. Model healthy habits, like setting phone-free times, taking social media breaks, or just being present during family time. Show them how to use social media in a balanced way by setting phone-free times and modeling healthy habits. 4. Encourage Real-Life Activities Social media is great for staying in touch, but it can never replace real-life experiences. Encourage hobbies, sports, or family time to keep them grounded. This way, they can create a well-rounded life that isn’t centered solely around the screen. Plus, those real-world experiences will give them something to post about on their feed! 5. Be Their Guide, Not Their Warden At the end of the day, we can’t control everything teens do online. But we can provide guidance, support, and resources to help them use social media in a positive and mindful way. Keep the lines of communication open and encourage them to have trusted mentors—whether it’s a teacher, coach, older cousin, or life coach—who can provide advice beyond just Mom or Dad. If you’re worried about your teen’s social media habits, let’s talk! Book a free parent support session.