Online Child Sexual Abuse – Get Help
Making a Change
Online sexual violence is an all-too-common issue that affects many, and as kids navigate online spaces it is something that young people of all genders may face.
Online sexual violence can have serious impacts on mental health and well-being, from depression and anxiety to self-harm and suicide. It is important to know that you are not alone, and that there are things you can do, including telling a safe adult. Being a safe adult for someone is important too.
The responsibility lies with the person / people illegally distributing images without the consent of the person who took them / is in them. Technology and sexting are a normal part of relationships that people should not be shamed for. In R. v. Sharpe, the Supreme Court of Canada has established a “personal use” exception to images (child sexual abuse images or child ‘pornography’). These provisions permit two youth who engage in sexual activity to consensually record their sexual activity as long as it is for “personal use only.” CONSENT is key.
The materials are still child sexual abuse images but the youth are legally allowed to possess them as long as the images do not go beyond their personal use.
Online sexual violence can include sextortion, grooming, luring, coercion, cyberbullying, sharing or threatening to share intimate images, creating and sharing images/deepfakes/AI generated sexually explicit images (capping), receiving images without consent (cyber flashing) or requesting images. Images sent under pressure are not consensual – this is online sexual violence, also known as Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control.
Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control is a form of abuse that involves the use of technology to control, monitor, and manipulate another person.
As technology changes so quickly, sign up to cybertip.ca/alerts to receive notifications of new trends and resources to increase online awareness and safety.
For more information check out the following resources including from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.
HELP LINKS
Cybertip: Canada’s National Tipline for Reporting the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
As Canada’s tipline for reporting online child sexual abuse and exploitation, Cybertip.ca is also a place for Canadians to turn to for help with concerns about shared intimate images, online luring, and other areas involving child victimization on the internet.
NeedHelpNow.ca
If you are worried that a nude, partially nude or sexually explicit picture or video of anyone under the age of 18 is being shared online, there are steps you can take to regain control, and get support.
Kids in the Know
Kids in the Know is the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s national safety education program. The program engages students with interactive activities to help build skills that increase their personal safety and reduce their risk of victimization online and offline.
Take It Down
This service is one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before the age of 18.
Commit to Kids
Learn more about safeguarding children so they are safe in school, in sport, in daycares, in camp and other child serving organizations.
Digitally Informed Youth (DIY) Digital Safety
This team of scholars, researchers, and students promote youth empowerment so they can have safe and enjoyable interactions online and offline.
Stop Non-consensual Intimate Image Abuse
StopNCII.org will generate a digital fingerprint – called a hash – of the image(s)/video(s) on your device. A hash will be sent from your device, but not the image/video itself. Your content will not be uploaded, it will remain on your device.
Project Arachnid
This uses hashing technology to detect and remove child pornography online
Youth Action for Prevention
Internet Awareness and Safety. The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute believes that children of all abilities have the right to the best physical, social, and emotional health possible.
Government of Canada and Public Safety Canada resources for online sexual exploitation
Find out what you can do to help prevent online child sexual exploitation, by exploring the resources to learn about online exploitation tactics like grooming, capping, sexting, sextortion, and the distribution of sexual images and videos.
