After a case of four children ages 8-12 on the East Coast sharing inappropriate images of themselves online, the Airdrie RCMP encourage to talk about the dangers of the internet with your children and to monitor their online behaviour.

The children who shared their photos were not coerced and did so on based on their own decisions. The dangers of social media affecting children are more common this generation and Corporal Gina Slaney of the Airdrie RCMP detachment says children and parents need to be aware. 

"It is a very scary topic to talk about. With today's technology and social media, image sharing is becoming more common these days and unfortunately, the kids are getting younger and younger. We, the RCMP, are encouraging parents to be vigilant of what their children are doing online. Many young people don't realize that publicly sharing images or videos of a sexual nature of a person under the age of 18 is a child pornography offence."

Slaney has some tips for avoiding situations like the one out east. 

"Parents and guardians should know what sites their children are visiting. Regularly monitor their devices and talk to them about appropriate online behaviour. It is never too early to talk to our children about these things. You have to know what your children are doing online."

Slaney also says that spreading child pornography in any way could result in a choice that will follow the offender for the rest of their life. 

"If you publically share an image or video of a sexual nature of a person under the age of 18 it is considered child pornography and you could be charged."

The best way to avoid situations like this, according to Slaney, is to talk to your children about it, no matter how terrifying it might be. 

"It definitely is not an easy topic. I have two kids near those ages as well and it is difficult but you have to have those conversations with them. You have to sit your children down and talk about the dangers of doing something like this. Things like this can follow you for the rest of your life so we need to educate our children."

 

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