The Chain Between "Dark Part-Time Jobs" and Sex Crime
Entering 2022, crimes related to "dark part-time jobs" (yami-baito) that draw young people in through "high-paying, same-day-pay" job ads on social media have surged. The most serious of these is the steering of teenage girls toward sexual exploitation.
The typical method is as follows. 1. Posts on Twitter, TikTok, and similar platforms reading "daily pay, from 50,000 yen" 2. Contact via direct message (DM), explained as "model shoots" or "video production" 3. In reality, demands for the filming of sexual videos or the provision of sexual services 4. Once filming or the act has occurred, threats to "spread the video around" to force continuation
The Reality of the Harm
Sex-crime harm related to dark part-time jobs identified by police from January to October 2022 rose 60% year-on-year. About 40% of the victims were under 18.
According to support groups, many victims hold both the temptation of "earning a lot of money in a short time" and the fear of "being unable to escape," and they tend to hesitate to voluntarily file criminal complaints.
Challenges for Countermeasures
Police are strengthening "cyber guidance" (a method of finding and protecting minors through online patrols), but some point out that the framework for cooperation with social media platforms is insufficient. Literacy education in schools and the establishment of an environment where it is easy to seek help are also urgent priorities.
This article is compiled based on publicly available information.