Youth aged 12 and older can be charged with Criminal Code Offences for online misconduct

WHITE Rock RCMP are encouraging parents and guardians to take an active role in monitoring their children’s cellphone use in light of increasing concerns related to negative online behaviors.

With cellphone usage starting at elementary school ages, White Rock RCMP say they have noticed an increase in negative behaviours associated with usage including cyberbullying and sharing of explicit content (sexting), often occurring in apps that youth believe can not be traced back to them.

It is important to know that youth aged 12 and older can be charged with Criminal Code Offences for online misconduct. This includes serous offences such as sharing intimate images of another youth without consent, online harassment, or making threats through digital platforms.

What parents Can Do:

• Stay involved: Know what apps your child uses, who they’re talking to, and what content they share.
• Set boundaries: Establish clear rules for screen time, online behavior, and what content is appropriate.
• Talk openly: Create a safe space for your child to report anything uncomfortable they experience online.
• Check privacy settings: Ensure all devices and apps have strict privacy settings enabled.
• Be alert for red flags: Sudden changes in behavior, secrecy about phone use, or receiving gifts / money can signal something is wrong.

Safety tips for youth:

• Never share personal or explicit photos or videos.
• Don’t talk to strangers online—even if they seem your age.
• Report any suspicious or uncomfortable behavior to a trusted adult.
• Understand that once something is shared online, it can’t be taken back.

“If you wouldn’t want your parent, teacher or coach to see what you are sending, it’s probably not appropriate to send,” advises Youth Relations Officer Constable Sears. “Social media apps such as Snapchat and Discord (and others) can be traced back to you even after what you have sent disappears or is deleted. It’s important to treat your online life as you would your regular life.”

White Rock RCMP recommend parents set boundaries on where devices can be used. Sears sayd: “I have yet to investigate a file where nude images were sent from the kitchen or family room. They have always been sent from the bedroom or bathroom with parents / guardians present inside the home.”

Need help or more information? These are White Rock RCMP’s go-to resources for parents and youth.

• Protecting Surrey Schools Together Is someone or something bothering you or your friends at school? The PSST Report It! form is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is a safe, secure and anonymous way to report issues of concern.
• ERASE: Expect respect a safe education Province of British Columbia – erase helps students, adults, and school staff build safe, caring and inclusive school communities.
• Safer Schools Together This Parent’s Guide to Raising Digitally Responsible Youth will equip you with the knowledge you need to stay in the loop about the most popular applications and trends. Correspondingly, this guide will give you a better understanding of your child or teen’s internet usage so you can relate to the digital world they live in.
• Get Cyber Safe – Provides a broad range of information for parents and youth to help them stay safe in the cyber world.
• NeedHelpNow.ca Provides information to youth who have been impacted by a sexual picture / video being shared online, by email or by text.