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March 28, 2024 19:18

Spiritwood RCMP: Remind parents to take a proactive approach to protect children from online exploitation

The internet is an incredible social and educational tool.  However, Spiritwood RCMP would like to remind parents and family members of the need to take a proactive approach to protect children from online sexual exploitations.

Within the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases involving youth in self/peer exploitation. In most instances, online conversations start off as what appear to be friendly conversation and can then quickly progress to sexual conversations. Teens may initially feel flattered and curious about these conversations and think it is harmless. However, some teens can be tricked into thinking they are actually in an online relationship with the other person.

What you can do:

As parents and family members, it is important to have conversations with your children about the risks associated to social media and technology.

  • Talk to them about what programs and sites they are using, and why they are using them.
  • Become familiar with the apps that they use, and that come pre-installed on their phones.
  • Monitor the amount of time they spend on the internet.
  • Consider parental controls that limit access to certain apps and internet sites.
  • Edit privacy settings to restrict access to accounts your children use.
  • Have them use the internet in an open space such as the kitchen or living room where you can observe what is going on.
  • Discuss with them the risks of chatting with people online that they don’t personally know.
  • Tell them that people don’t always tell the truth and may not be who they say that they are online.
  • Reassure them that you are always there to help, even in a tough situation, and they should never listen to someone telling them not to tell their parents.
  • Explain to them that live-streaming can be recorded, and that pictures stay in cyber space even once they think they have deleted them. Pictures and videos can be forwarded over and over again.

For more information, please visit the following:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/is-si/index-eng.htm

https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

www.cybertip.ca

www.needhelpnow.ca

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a cybercrime, please contact your local police service or RCMP detachment.

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