You are spot on. Back in the day, even though I was always naturally distrustful of strangers, I probably would have followed Charlene out to the van, never thinking that a woman would be a threat to my safety. You live and learn, that is, if you're lucky.

I agree wholeheartedly that social media platforms need to do more to protect minors who are easy targets for predators. Sadly, I doubt that any such policing is on the horizon.