Teaching safety in an online world
Duchesne students attended an important presentation on September 9 that focused on online safety and creating awareness of sexual exploitation.
Pursuit 3416, an organization specializing in educating students and young adults about subjects such as grooming, sextortion, social media, and online manipulation, gave the talk.
“After attending our presentation, I hope students realize how much power they have to stay safe,” said Melanie Williams, Pursuit 3416 founder and president. “It comes down to making wise choices, recognizing manipulation, and understanding that anyone can be a predator — so they should trust their instincts and speak up.”
“It was good that she used actual examples to get your attention,” said senior Caroline Wash. “She actually showed the effects that this has had on people.”
“I think that the awareness it showed was the biggest factor to me,” said senior
Bennett Borgmeyer. “Then, if things like that happen, you know what to do.”
Pursuit 3416 was founded in 2021 by Melanie Williams to address gaps she saw in sexual exploitation education in the St. Louis area. Before then, Williams worked with teenage survivors of sex trafficking through a local restoration home. Pursuit 3416 speaks at roughly 25 to 35 schools, youth groups, and organizations every year.
Their recent presentation at a local Catholic grade school is how they got on the radar of Duchesne Assistant Principal and Dean of Student Life, Debi Turner.
“[They] did a presentation at my parish, St. Cletus Church, last spring, where I was able to connect with their founder and president,” she said. “ The internet is here to stay, and predators are becoming increasingly sophisticated with it. It’s easy to believe that online exploitation could never touch our families. Yet, the reality is sobering: even within the seemingly safe walls of Duchesne, students are being targeted and exploited by predators through social media.”
The Pursuit presentation is the second talk given at Duchesne, focusing on online safety and awareness of online dangers. Last year, national speaker Ben Tracy visited Duchesne to speak on social media and mental health.
Pursuit 3416 is growing. Williams is preparing to launch a Pursuit Peers program to create student-led clubs in schools throughout Missouri.
“[This program] would create a safe space where young people can come together to talk openly about exploitation they’ve witnessed or experienced and learn how to respond safely and confidently,” she said. “Achieving this vision will require significant funding, specialized training, and dedicated staff. We are actively seeking grant opportunities and support to make this vital initiative a reality.”
With the ever-changing online world landscape, Turner says more presentations like this one are sure to come.
“It’s vital that we continue providing our students with the most accurate and up-to-date information. If the Pursuit 3416 presentation helped protect even one student, then it is absolutely worth it to me,” she said.