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For Youth
Sexual Exploitation
Experiencing sexual exploitation is not an easy thing to recognize or to navigate. Luckily, you are not alone and there are many resources out there!
If you have been placed in a situation where you have felt that you needed to provide a sexual act, photo, or video in exchange for anything (physical or emotional), then you have been placed in a situation of sexual exploitation- and it’s not your fault!
Examples of Sexual Exploitation:
- Pressure to engage in a sexual act at a party for popularity or acceptance
- Pressure to sext/ send a naked image
- A predator contacting you online for sexual or romantic purposes
- Selling photos or videos that are sexually explicit in return for money or rewards
- Pressure to engage in sexual activity in return for money
Help and Tips!
Sexting
Sextortion
Sextortion
Sexting- Sending naked or semi-naked texts in picture or video
A Canadian study by https://mediasmarts.ca/ found that:
- Only 4/10 Canadian youth have sent a sext.
- 62% of youth have never sent a sexy to someone who asked for it.
- 1 in 6 youth have had a sext shared.
What are the risks?
While it is important to have body positivity, anything sent through a digital device never guarantees privacy, control, or disappearance.
What is the law?
The Law: Under the Criminal Code, any of the following amount to child pornography (child abuse) material:
- A photographic, film, video or other visual representation, whether or not it was made by electronic or mechanical means,
- that shows a person who is or is depicted as being under the age of eighteen years and is engaged in or is depicted as engaged in explicit sexual activity, or
- the dominant characteristic of which is the depiction, for a sexual purpose, of a sexual organ or the anal region of a person under the age of eighteen years;
Under the Criminal Code (Canada), it is illegal to:
- Make child pornography (includes make, print, publish, possess for the purpose of publication)
- Distribute child pornography (includes transmit, make available, distribute, sell, advertise, import, export or possess for the purpose of transmission, making available, distribution, sale, advertising or exportation)
- Possess child pornography
Did someone share a sext of yours without consent? The law is on your side and there are steps to take:
- Report to Cybertip.ca
- Learn the steps to take it back at needhelpnow.ca
- Send us a message
Sextortion
Sextortion
Sextortion
Sextortion- When someone threatens to send a sexual image or video of you to others if you don’t send more sexual content or pay them money.
Things to Know:
- You never know who is on the other side of the screen unless you know them in person
- Live stream apps and websites can be recorded!
- Most predators may use an excuse that their microphone or video is not working
- Predators can display a pre-recorded video in a live stream making you believe that what you see on the other end is a real live person
What to Do:
- Do not respond to the individual and stop all communication.
- Take screenshots and document all of their information and the messages for proof
- Report to Cybertip.ca
Did someone share a sext of yours without consent? The law is on your side and there are steps to take:
- Report to Cybertip.ca
- Learn the steps to take it back at needhelpnow.ca
- Send us a message
Online Healthy Friend/ Love Interest or Exploiter?
- An exploiter will know information about you before you have shared it, or state common interests as coincidence
- An exploiter will ask for a naked photo or video
- An exploiter will be quick to ask you about your relationship and sexual history
- An exploiter will be a few years older than you (18-20 typically)
- An exploiter will transfer you from one app/ platform to another
- An exploiter will want to meet in person and ensure you don't tell your parents
5 Signs of Grooming
Peer Pressure for Sexual Activity
Peer Pressure for Sexual Activity
5 Warning Signs of Grooming
Exploiters and human traffickers will pretend to be a boyfriend or a friend in order to lure youth into sexual exploitation. They use tactics throughout this relationship to take advantage of youth later.
There are 5 warning signs. They do not all happen at once and not all of them need to be present. Reach out if your relationship displays any of the following:
- Age Difference - Typically a 2-7 year age difference of someone in high school dating or having a friendship with someone a little older. This is a red flag as age difference creates a power imbalance: the exploiter has access to things such as transportation, money, or ID. They may also use their age to pressure you into acting "more mature".
- Gifting - This looks like someone buying you things or treating you to things that you can't typically afford for yourself. This is done intentionally to build a debt that you will need to pay back later. Gifts include free drugs at parties, cell phones, or puppies.
- Isolation - The purpose is to take you away from your family or friends physically or emotionally. This can look like getting you to move out, keeping secrets from your parents, or taking you away from your friends.
- Lifestyle Changes - This is any sort of change in your life since you met this person; whether it means your grades are dropping, you are skipping class more often, partying more often, or dropping your hobbies.
- Gut Feeling - Your body is designed to warn you when there is danger. When you get an uncomfortable feeling, listen to your gut!
Peer Pressure for Sexual Activity
Peer Pressure for Sexual Activity
Peer Pressure for Sexual Activity
What is consent?
A voluntary, free, and enthusiastic agreement to engage in sexual activity.
Important factors of consent:
- Consent to one type of sexual activity is not consent to another
- Consent to sexual activity one time, is not consent to sexual activity at any time
- Consent can also be taken away at any time
- It is the responsibility of the person initiating to make sure they have consent
If you are in a situation where you feel uncomfortable to say “no”, here are some alternatives:
“I’m tired”
“I have to go”
“I have to text my parents”
“I have my period”
“I’m not feeling well”