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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.

Children 8–10 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 orplatform, to make it easier to commit a specific sexual offence against them.

Adults looking to exploit youth 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 children.

  • Tell your child that if someone in a game or online says something or asks them to do something that makes them feel “weird” or uncomfortable, to stop talking to that person. Your child should tell a safe adult if this happens.
  • Explain that they should never meet someone in person without a parent or safe adult present.
  • Remind them not to share pictures with people they play against in games.
  • Remind them to get your permission before sharing pictures or video chatting with people online.
  • Remind your child they can always talk to you if they need your help, at any point in a difficult situation, without worrying about getting into trouble.

Exposure to sexually explicit material

Children can be exposed to sexually explicit material, such as adult pornography, simply by typing an incorrect web address into a web browser or clicking on an inappropriate search result and unexpectedly finding themselves on a site they did not intend to go to.

To help reduce the chance of your child accessing pornography:

  • Be involved in what your child is doing online.
  • Set up parental controls, use filtering software, and set limits on your child’s use of devices.
  • Supervise younger children when they are online.
  • Have regular conversations with your child about relationships and personal boundaries.
  • Provide a standard of measure for healthy relationships and healthy sexuality your child can compare to when trying to make sense of what they see online or in movies, shows, or video games.
  • Talk openly with your child about the hidden negative messages in media (e.g., gender stereotypes and the glorification of violence, power and control).

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

  • Check search histories on the devices your child uses. If they have been viewing explicit material, talk to them about how upsetting that can be and what they have seen is not a real relationship. Explain it is acting.
  • Talk about healthy relationships and provide them with age-appropriate resources to help them learn about questions they have.
  • Increase supervision and monitoring of internet usage.
  • Be emotionally available and willing to listen to your youth. When a child goes 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 child does not want to talk, let them know you are available if they need you.
  • If there are changes in behaviour and your concerns persist, consult with your family doctor.