07-05-2025
Ariel Winter Reveals Why She Goes Undercover to Catch Child Predators
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Ariel Winter is volunteering for an important cause.
The Modern Family alum recently revealed she began volunteering with SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse) a couple years ago to help catch online sexual predators.
'They're an amazing organization,' she told People in an interview published May 7. 'They fight child sex trafficking online, which is usually the precursor to in-person trafficking.'
Ariel said she was inspired to help after she and her boyfriend Luke Benward watched the TV show Undercover Underage, which chronicled SOSA's work. In fact, the experience struck a chord.
"The show just impacted me deeply because I was that kid so many times over that was preyed upon in person online," the 27-year-old explained. "I was just like, God, I would love to be able to help be a part of that. I don't want to say there's a solution, but I would love to help take some of these people off the streets."
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Since then, Ariel's work with the organization has seen her participate in their undercover operations.
'It's nerve-racking,' she admitted. 'We build decoy rooms in case the [perp] wants to see our rooms; we have personas. It's very serious.'for 4th Annual Legacy Ball
In addition to sharing her shock over 'by the number of people' who turn out to be online predators, Ariel noted while rewarding, the work can also be personally challenging.
'I didn't realize it would bring up some of the things past traumas for me that it did,' she explained, 'but when you're in disguise as a 12-year-old and someone is telling you what they're going to do to your 12-year-old body… it's hard.'
And in the years since she began helping SOSA, the organization's founder Roo Powell says Ariel has become a valued member.
'I feel so lucky to have her get behind our mission,' Roo said. 'It's been really meaningful, and the benefit has really been in raising awareness for both parents and kids of the dangers lurking online.'
Christine Bartolucci/Variety via Getty Images
And it's that piece about raising awareness—especially among parents—that is also among the most important for the sitcom star.
"People want to turn a blind eye and pretend this part of the world doesn't exist or isn't as prevalent, but it does and it is, so much," Ariel noted. "Kids are so vulnerable to being exploited online in this heavily digital age. Parents think, 'I love my child, I'm present in their lives, they have friends, this wouldn't happen to them.' But it can and does happen to anybody.'
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