The bold B.C. campaign to eradicate child sextortion

Leo MacIsaac, a typical 6th grader in Vancouver, spends his evenings like many kids his age – chatting with friends on the Discord app and sharing funny videos of his pets. However, what Leo didn’t realize was that predators lurked online, targeting unsuspecting children like him.

After attending a workshop by B.C. group Children of the Street at his school, Laura Secord Elementary, Leo learned about the subtle tactics predators use to lure kids into private chats or other platforms. Presenter Serina Tarr warned students about the initial seemingly harmless messages that predators send, which can quickly escalate into dangerous situations.

The workshop shed light on the alarming spike in online sexual exploitation cases in Canada, with over 6,000 reports in the last 18 months, a 150% increase in the last six months alone. The director of Cybertip.ca, Stephen Sauer, emphasized the importance of educating kids about red flags and warning signs of exploitation.

With teen boys being the primary victims of sextortion, Children of the Street is taking a bold approach to educate and empower young people to protect themselves online. By teaching kids how to spot red flags and avoid falling into the traps set by predators, the organization hopes to decrease the number of exploitation reports.

For Leo and his mom, Chantelle, the workshop was an eye-opener. They now have open conversations about online safety, and Leo is more cautious about interacting with strangers online. By raising awareness and empowering kids to recognize and report suspicious behavior, organizations like Children of the Street are working to combat the disturbing rise of online exploitation in Canada.