Anti-trafficking’s Sensational Misinformation: The “72-hour Myth” and America’s Homeless Youth

Media representations of sex trafficking among homeless youth typically and needlessly contain sensationalized images and unsupported false statistics regarding the issue. One of those factoids: that runaway and homeless youth are likely to be trafficked for sex within 72 hours of leaving home is particularly pervasive despite being completely unfounded. This article tracks down the sources of this misinformation. Then, using a study of over 600 homeless youth conducted by Loyola University’s Modern Slavery Research Project, the article provides a more nuanced and survivor-centered portrait of the human trafficking–both sex and labor–that affects the homeless youth population.