Report on Shifting Online Discourse on Human Trafficking and Its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent analysis of social media trends reveals a significant decline in discourse related to human trafficking among prominent conservative and MAGA-affiliated accounts. This shift highlights the politicization of a critical human rights issue, undermining progress toward several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The instrumental use of trafficking narratives for political gain, followed by a sharp decrease in attention, detracts from genuine, evidence-based efforts required to achieve SDG Target 16.2, which aims to end trafficking and exploitation of children.

Analysis of Social Media Trends

Key Findings from the Montclair State University Study

A joint study by Montclair State University’s Center for Strategic Communication and its Global Center on Human Trafficking identified a substantial reduction in social media content about human trafficking from a selection of influential conservative accounts. The findings indicate a politically motivated, rather than a genuine, engagement with the issue.

• From January to July 2025, the selected accounts posted 64% fewer posts about trafficking compared to the same period in 2023.
• A 79% reduction in the total volume of human trafficking posts was observed in the studied accounts between the peak year of 2023 and 2025.
• The study suggests that the 2023 peak may have been influenced by the film Sound of Freedom, which, while not overtly a QAnon movie, was widely embraced by conspiracy-adjacent accounts to amplify myths about trafficking.

Decline in Engagement and Strategic Shifts

The report identifies several factors contributing to the decline, which have direct implications for SDG 16.10 (ensure public access to information).

1. Reduced Audience Engagement: Data shows a significant decrease in the visibility and traction of trafficking-related posts. For example, a post by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on the topic in 2025 saw a 97% decrease in visibility compared to a similar post in 2023. This suggests a waning audience interest in the manufactured panic.
2. Internal Political Infighting: The tactic of accusing political opponents of trafficking has reportedly led to internal conflicts, diminishing its appeal as a unifying political weapon. This misuse of information undermines the establishment of strong and just institutions as per SDG 16.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Undermining SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The politicization of human trafficking directly obstructs the objectives of SDG 16. By promoting misinformation and conspiracy theories, these online campaigns detract from the real-world complexities of trafficking and erode public trust in the institutions tasked with combating it.

• Target 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking): The focus on sensationalist myths (e.g., mass kidnappings from public places) diverts resources and attention from the actual drivers of trafficking, such as systemic injustice and vulnerability. This hinders effective prevention and protection strategies.
• Target 16.3 (Promote the rule of law): The discourse surrounding potential pardons for convicted traffickers like Ghislaine Maxwell and the selective release of information related to the Jeffrey Epstein case politicizes the justice system, threatening the rule of law and equal access to justice for victims.

Impact on SDG 5 and SDG 10: Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities

The report highlights that the disingenuous engagement with trafficking has severe consequences for vulnerable populations, directly contradicting the principles of SDG 5 and SDG 10.

• Target 5.2 (Eliminate violence against women and girls): The issue of sex trafficking, for which figures like Ghislaine Maxwell were convicted, becomes a political tool rather than a critical issue of gender-based violence requiring sustained action.
• Target 10.2 (Promote social inclusion): Researchers note that trafficking disproportionately affects marginalized groups. The defunding of domestic support and prevention programs, often under the guise of combating “woke” initiatives, exacerbates the vulnerabilities of these groups, thereby increasing inequality and hindering their protection.

Conclusion: A Setback for Global Partnerships and Genuine Action

The study concludes that the analyzed accounts demonstrate no real interest in engaging with the problem of human trafficking in a responsible manner. The failure of these influential voices to address substantive issues, such as budget cuts to the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, confirms that their engagement was superficial. This approach damages long-term efforts and partnerships (SDG 17) by creating a toxic information environment. The lasting legacy is a public discourse detached from the reality of victims’ experiences, making it more difficult to combat the broader injustices that fuel trafficking and achieve the global commitment to end it.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme is human trafficking, a form of organized crime that undermines peace and justice. It discusses the justice system through the cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and mentions government bodies like the “State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.” The spread of misinformation about trafficking, as detailed in the article, also hinders the development of effective institutions and just responses to the crime.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article explicitly mentions “sex trafficking” and the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell for trafficking underage girls. Human trafficking, particularly for sexual exploitation, disproportionately affects women and girls, making SDG 5 highly relevant.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• This goal includes a specific target to end modern slavery and human trafficking. The article’s entire focus on the political discourse and realities of human trafficking directly connects to the core aims of this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article points out that misinformation campaigns distract from the root causes of trafficking. It quotes an expert saying, “Trafficking is typically the result of broader injustice” and that “marginalized groups are at the greatest risk of being trafficked.” This highlights how inequality creates the vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article is fundamentally about human trafficking, with a significant focus on the exploitation of children, as exemplified by the QAnon conspiracy theories, the #SaveTheChildren slogan, and the Jeffrey Epstein case involving underage girls.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The mention of “sex trafficking” and the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell for crimes against underage girls directly aligns with this target’s aim to eliminate trafficking and sexual exploitation of females.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. The article’s discussion revolves around human trafficking, which is a core component of this target. The text critiques the lack of “real interest in engaging with the problem of human trafficking from these voices,” pointing to a failure to take the “immediate and effective measures” called for by this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The article implies this target by highlighting that “marginalized groups are at the greatest risk of being trafficked.” The failure to address the “broader injustice” that leads to trafficking, as mentioned in the text, represents a failure to ensure equal opportunity and protection for all, thereby perpetuating inequalities of outcome.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Volume of public and political discourse on human trafficking: The article provides specific quantitative data from a social media study, noting a “64 percent fewer posts about trafficking” and a “79 percent reduction in the total volume of human trafficking posts” on certain accounts. This serves as an indicator of the level of attention (or lack thereof) being paid to the issue in influential circles.
• Government funding for anti-trafficking initiatives: The article directly mentions an indicator of regressive action: the “cuts to the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons” and the defunding of “programs for prevention and support for survivors.” The level of funding for such programs is a direct measure of government commitment.
• Prosecution and conviction of traffickers: The article’s reference to Ghislaine Maxwell being “convicted for sex trafficking” serves as an example of an indicator for measuring justice system effectiveness in combating this crime. The number of successful prosecutions is a key metric for progress.
• Prevalence of trafficking among vulnerable populations: The statement that “marginalized groups are at the greatest risk of being trafficked” implies the need for an indicator that measures the proportion of trafficking victims from these groups. Tracking this data is essential to understanding if efforts are successfully addressing the root causes of trafficking linked to inequality.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: rollingstone.com