Last month, the Alberta RCMP provided information to youth about online safety. Youth today may encounter risks online, including grooming and luring. By understanding these risks and practicing safe online habits, fewer young people will become victims.
Grooming occurs when an individual builds trust with a young person online to manipulate, exploit, coerce, or abuse them. This may be for a sexual purpose, to facilitate criminal activity, financial exploitation, luring, or other forms of control. Offenders often use flattery, attention, gifts, or emotional manipulation to gain a young person’s trust. Grooming can take place on social media apps, dating apps, online communities, text messages or online chats, online games, and livestreaming or video apps. Exploitation may take place online, in person, or both.
Youth today can avoid grooming by practicing the following:
Avoid sharing personal information, including your full name, age, phone number, address, school, daily routines, usernames and passwords, and photos or videos.
Block anyone who is making you uncomfortable. If someone makes you uncomfortable online – whether they’re asking too many personal questions, sending sexual messages, or harassing you – you don’t have to participate.
Tell a trusted adult. If you ever feel unsure or unsafe about something online, talk to a trusted adult, parent, guardian, Elder, or another support person.
It is critical that parents and caregivers:
Monitor online activities;
Promote online safety practices;
Maintain open communication about the dangers that exist online;
Become familiar with the apps and platforms your children are using;
Foster an open dialogue and empower your child to approach you in the event they or someone they know are being targeted or victimized;
Never judge; approach situations calmly, with support and understanding;
Be aware of signs indicating your child is possibly being exploited online, including emotional changes, social withdrawal, unexplained gifts, increased secrecy, as well as concerning relationships; and
Use community resources if you suspect something is going on with your child, whether that be through school, family physicians, community groups, or your local police.
“Adults play a vital role in helping young people stay safe online,” says Cst. Dustin Frick, St. Paul RCMP. “Offenders often rely on secrecy and manipulation to target youth. Parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults can help by talking openly about online risks, recognizing warning signs, and creating an environment where young people feel safe asking for help.”
If you believe a young person is being groomed online, report concerns to your local police immediately.
For more information on online safety, visit Public Safety Canada’s Help for Youth, follow us on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta, Instagram @RCMPALBERTAGRC, X @RCMPAlberta, and on YouTube @RCMP-GRC Alberta.