Abstract
Sacramento, California is known as a “hotspot” for sex trafficking, and the cases of sex trafficking reported to law enforcement are on the rise. However, sex trafficking victims often go undetected or unnoticed. Because of this, institutions and agencies collectively participate to address and combat sex trafficking but still encounter roadblocks from lack of support and funding along the way. Importantly, media are common venues for present-day portrayals of sex trafficking, the fear of such, and anti-sex trafficking information. In this content analysis, online resources are examined to understand what and how types of materials about sex trafficking are disseminated to the public. Using Goffman’s (1974) Framing Theory and Reinarman’s (2006) Moral Panic Theory, this study analyzes sex trafficking and anti-sex trafficking content. During data collection, 89 relevant online sources were available for analysis. Results indicate that Sacramento organizations do collaborate and provide useful information on how to detect, understand, and reduce sex trafficking. Yet, website materials reinforce normative depictions of sex trafficking victims. Research implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.