HALIFAX/EAST HANTS: The Nova Scotia RCMP Youth Cybercrime Advisory Committee has released a short video on the dangers of sharing intimate images.
The committee, which is a volunteer group made up of high school students from across Nova Scotia, identified this as a top area of concern for youth safety.
An intimate image is a visual recording of a person. This includes photos and videos in which a person is nude, exposing their genitals, butt or breasts or is engaged in sexual activity.
There are two videos: one is for a youth audience and the other is for parents, guardians and those that work with youth.
In both videos, Nova Scotia RCMP Youth Cybercrime Advisory Committee members are interviewed for their perspective on the issue, what they believe the risks are and what can be done to protect youth.
“We’re asking Nova Scotians to share these videos with their social networks to discourage youth from requesting intimate images and to empower them to refuse requests for intimate images,” says Cst. Jeff Wilson, School Safety Resource Officer for the Nova Scotia RCMP. “We also hope these videos to help adults better understand the issue and support the youth in their lives.”
Requesting and sending intimate images is dangerous for many reasons. It can result in trauma, sextortion, bullying, regret and even criminal charges for child pornography.
Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others from the dangers of sharing intimate images by watching the videos on Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/rcmpns/) and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRYeaF-bOJXTVmiZOfkVMQ) and share using the hashtag #StopAskingStopSending.
“It’s happening all the time,” says a youth interviewed in the video. “…Some (people) are as young as 13…when they get asked for pictures like that,” says another.
If you have concerns about an intimate image, contact your local police, or, if you live in RCMP jurisdiction, call the RCMP at 1-800-803-7267 (RCMP).
The Nova Scotia RCMP Youth Cybercrime Advisory Committee is a group of high school students from across Nova Scotia. The committee works with School Safety Resource Officers to share information about cybercrime, cyberbullying and to identify cyber trends commonly used by youth. If you are interested in joining the committee, speak to your School Safety Resource Officer.
