News release

Safer Internet Day highlights urgent need to protect children from online exploitation

February 10, 2026 - British Columbia, British Columbia
From: British Columbia RCMP

Content

The BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit is marking Safer Internet Day by highlighting the urgent need to protect children and youth from online exploitation, including the growing threat of sextortion. As cases continue to rise, the RCMP is launching bold and unconventional awareness efforts designed to spark real conversations and help young people stay safe.

The “Show me your” campaign uses attention‑grabbing imagery and symbols familiar to youth to break through the silence surrounding sextortion. The goal is simple: get people talking. Open communication and education are essential to prevention, and no image, mistake, or moment of pressure is ever worth a young person feeling like there is no way out.

Behind every message is a real person. Tragically, investigators have seen lives lost because victims felt alone, ashamed, or too afraid to reach out. One life lost to sextortion is too many. We want young people, and the adults who support them, to know that help is always available. You are not alone, and nothing is worth your life.

Sextortion often begins with online luring, grooming, or impersonation, and offenders increasingly use social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps to target youth. Warning signs can include sudden changes in mood or behaviour, secretive online activity, or unexplained requests for money or gift cards. If a young person has already shared images, they should know that many others have been in the same situation and that tools and resources exist to help get images removed.

Safer Internet Day encourages families, educators, tech companies, and governments to work together to reduce online risks. Locally, BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit continues to see increases in: 

• Online luring
• Sextortion involving threats to share intimate images
• Distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material
• Grooming and impersonation used to build trust and exploit children

To help keep kids safe, the RCMP urges parents and caregivers to:

• Maintain open, judgment‑free conversations about online behaviour
• Know which apps, games, and platforms children are using
• Set clear boundaries around sharing images or personal information
• Encourage youth to report uncomfortable or suspicious interactions
• Save evidence and report concerns promptly to police

“Online child exploitation is a profound violation of trust and safety,” says Staff Sergeant Natalie Davis, Unit Commander of the BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit. “Our priority is to protect children, support victims, and hold offenders accountable.”

BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit works closely with schools, child‑protection agencies, national and international cybertip lines to identify victims, disrupt offenders, and support families.

“Children need to know they are never to blame,” adds Staff Sergeant Natalie Davis. “If something goes wrong online, we want them and their caregivers to feel safe coming forward.”

For resources related to Online Safety and Sextortion, please scan the QR code or visit this link. 

Anyone who believes a child may be at risk or has been exploited online is urged to contact their local police, or to report their concern anonymously at www.cybertip.ca. In situations where someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Quotes

Online child exploitation is a profound violation of trust and safety. Our priority is to protect children, support victims, and hold offenders accountable.

Children need to know they are never to blame. If something goes wrong online, we want them and their caregivers to feel safe coming forward.

Staff Sergeant Natalie Davis, Unit Commander of the BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit

Related products

• What to do if you have been sextorted?

Associated links

• Cypertip

Contacts