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Emerging Issues

Staying on top of trending online risks can be a challenge for parents/caregivers. New apps and sites are always emerging, known sites regularly change their protection features and those looking to harm youth are finding new ways to connect and manipulate children and youth. Below you will find information about online dangers and what you and your child can do about them.

Teens 13-15 years of age

Online luring

Online luring is when a person (typically an adult but not always) communicates with youth through technology, like texting, direct messaging, or chatting in an app, game orwebsite, to make it easier to commit a specific sexual offence against them.

Adults looking to exploit teens use several online grooming tactics, such as sending sexually explicit material, misrepresenting who they are (e.g., saying they're also a child), or attempting to establish a romantic relationship. This coercion is used in hopes the youth will either meet the offender in person or send sexually explicit material, which may be used to blackmail or extort the youth.

  • Explain to your teen that adults should not try to become friends with or give sexual attention to youth. If this occurs, they should tell a safe adult.
  • Discuss how sharing personal issues or situations online with the wrong person could leave someone open to manipulation and mistreatment.
  • Teach your teen how to get out of unwanted conversations. Practice making up excuses they can use to get out of situations.
  • Remind your teen they can always talk to you if they need your help without worrying about getting into trouble.

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images

The non-consensual distribution of intimate images refers to the sharing of an “intimate” image or video of another person without their consent. If the image or video involves someone under 18, it is illegal to distribute regardless of whether consent was provided. For steps on how to report these images, go to NeedHelpNow.ca.

If the picture or video is already online:

Sextortion

Simply put, sextortion is blackmail. It’s when someone online threatens to send a sexual image or video you to other people if you don’t pay them or provide more sexual content. Sextorters often target boys for money, while girls are targeted for more sexual images and videos. For more information, visit Cybertip.ca/sextortion.

  • Have conversations with your teen about the risks associated with using technology to experiment sexually and the potential risk of sextortion. It might be helpful to use media stories to engage them in conversation.
  • Reassure your teen if they ever end up in a problem situation, you’re there to help and support them.
  • If your teen is being sextorted online:
    • Go to NeedHelpNow.ca for support and help on what to do next.
    • Do not comply with the threat and do not respond.
    • Save the messages
    • Report to Cybertip.ca. All concerns about sextortion are also forwarded to police.
    • Delete and block the person.

Exposure to sexually explicit material

Teens can easily be exposed to sexually explicit material on the internet. Some intentionally seek it out as they are sexually curious. In looking for information on the internet, teens can be exposed to graphic and potentially harmful material that can influence their development of attitudes and beliefs about sexual relationships.

To help reduce the chance of your teen accessing pornography:

  • Be involved in what they’re doing online.
  • Set up parental controls, use filtering software and set limits on your teen’s use of devices.
  • Have regular conversations with your teen about healthy relationships and building intimacy and closeness with someone. They need to understand pornography does not represent real relationships; it is acting. It is also not a depiction of a healthy sexual relationship.
  • Provide a standard of measure for healthy relationships and healthy sexuality your teen can compare to when trying to make sense of mass media messages.
  • Talk openly with your teen about the hidden negative messages in media (e.g., gender stereotypes and the glorification of violence, sexual harm, power, and control).

If you notice your teen is in distress and you suspect it’s from viewing sexually explicit material:

  • Talk to them about it, and be open.
  • Let your teen know you notice they seem out of sorts. Ask if everything is okay, or if you can help in any way.
  • Be emotionally available and willing to listen to your teen. When teens go through a stressful experience, it is helpful for them to just have someone who cares about them to talk to without fear of judgment.
  • If your teen does not want to talk, let them know you are available if they need you.
  • If changes in behaviour persist, consult with your family doctor.