Summit hosted by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin tackles social media dangers, human trafficking prevention

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—From youth safety to human trafficking prevention, Arkansas leaders and advocates are tackling the darker side of social media during a two-day summit hosted by Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Held at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock, the Social Media Summit has drawn more than 1,200 educators, law enforcement officers, parents and nonprofit leaders from across the state. The free event features breakout sessions, national experts and collaborative workshops aimed at equipping Arkansans with tools to better protect children online.

Griffin, now in his third year of hosting statewide summits on critical issues, said this year’s focus on social media is timely.

“We’re going to talk about how criminals use social media to target young people and run criminal enterprises—particularly human trafficking and scams,” Griffin said. “We’ve got experts from around the country and around the world, and these sessions are useful for educators, parents, mental-health professionals and anyone who wants to better understand the risks.”

For Erica Parker, a community educator with Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas, the summit is a chance to strengthen the tools she brings back to students and parents in the 11 counties her nonprofit serves.

“Social media is a way for traffickers to target vulnerabilities in some of their victims,” Parker said. “Teaching kids who to trust, what to say and what not to say—it can make a huge difference.”

Parker’s organization focuses on both prevention and restoration services for those impacted by trafficking. One of the biggest threats she sees? The online grooming of young people who don’t always recognize red flags.

“If something feels uncomfortable, it probably is,” she said. “Talk to a parent, a teacher—someone you trust. Because if you don’t tell anyone, you could end up in a bad situation.”

Luke Jones, a cybersecurity consultant for Pulaski County Schools and co-founder of a digital safety initiative, says the online threats students face often follow them home.

“Now that cell phones are out of schools bell to bell, we’re seeing more of that screen time shift into the home,” Jones said. “That’s where parents need tools to step in and help close the loop.”

Jones is working to build ambassador programs in Arkansas schools, training senior students to educate their peers about safe online habits. He believes partnerships between schools, parents and local leaders are key to making lasting change.

Griffin’s office offers several downloadable resources for families, including social media toolkits and internet safety guides from federal agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Social Media Summit continues through Wednesday, and attendees can still register onsite or online at the Arkansas Attorney General’s website.