From Sitcom Star to Undercover Advocate: Ariel Winter’s Journey to Protect Children from Online Predators
From the bright lights of Hollywood to the darkest corners of the internet, Ariel Winter has taken a path few would have imagined.
Once celebrated as the sharp-tongued Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom Modern Family, Winter has traded in the glamour of television for a far more dangerous, yet deeply personal, mission: working undercover to help expose child predators online.
A New Chapter, A New Mission
Ariel Winter, now 27, has become an active volunteer with Safe From Online S*xual Abuse (SOSA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating online child exploitation and trafficking.
Instead of scripts and cameras, she now spends her time behind the screen, posing as underage girls in elaborate digital sting operations that lure predators into revealing themselves to law enforcement.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine on May 7, Winter described her work with SOSA as both harrowing and rewarding. “SOSA is an amazing team,” she shared. “They train adult volunteers like me to build convincing online profiles of minors, with the aim of catching adults who want to harm them.” When predators attempt to arrange meetings, local police coordinate with SOSA to make arrests. “We’re stopping the pipeline of online grooming that too often leads to real-world abuse,” she emphasized.
Her involvement began after she watched the documentary series Undercover Underage with her partner, actor Luke Benward. The show, which documents real-life sting operations, left a profound impact on her. “It was like a gut punch,” Winter said. “I’ve lived through being targeted as a kid—both online and in person. Seeing it from this angle made me want to take action.”
Facing the Darkness—and Her Own Past
Winter’s first experience with an operation was, by her own account, emotionally intense. “We design entire fake rooms to make it look like a child lives there.
We pick out posters, bedding, even schoolwork to make it believable,” she explained. “Then we wait for the predators to come.”
Pretending to be a 12-year-old girl online was more disturbing than she ever imagined. “The number of people who reach out is horrifying,” she said, voice heavy with emotion. “They’re not the monsters you’d think. They could be your neighbor, a coworker, someone you trust.”
Her undercover work has forced her to confront old wounds. “It triggers memories I didn’t even know I’d buried,” she admitted. “When you’re reading the vile things they want to do to this ‘12-year-old girl’—which is really you, playing a role—it’s like reliving my own trauma all over again.”
Shattering Complacency—and Offering a Warning
Winter hopes that by sharing her story, she can shatter the complacency many people feel about online safety. “There’s this false sense of security parents sometimes have,” she said. “They think, ‘We’re a loving family, we’re careful—this can’t happen to us.’ But the truth is, it can happen to anyone, anywhere.”
She emphasized that the internet is a playground for predators who exploit children’s innocence and trust. “Kids today are more connected than ever—social media, games, chat apps,” she said. “But that also means predators are just a click away.”
Despite the emotional toll, Winter has found a sense of healing in her advocacy. “For so long, I felt powerless,” she reflected. “Now I’m in a place where I can stand up, fight back, and protect others. It’s given me a sense of purpose I didn’t know I was missing.”
A Call to Action in a Digital World
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Ariel Winter’s transformation from TV star to real-life hero underscores the hidden crisis of online child exploitation. Her willingness to confront her own pain—and to face predators head-on—reminds us that real change often starts with those who are willing to step into the shadows.
Her message is clear: this work is not just about catching criminals. It’s about protecting children, raising awareness, and reminding us all that the fight against online exploitation is one we cannot ignore.
For those affected by the issues discussed here, help is available. Contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) at 0808 800 5000 (10 AM–8 PM, Monday to Friday). Children seeking confidential support can call Childline anytime at 0800 1111.
In a world that too often looks away, Ariel Winter’s journey is a powerful testament to what it means to stand up, even when it’s uncomfortable, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.