Six locally produced videos show the consequences of inappropriate posting and texting
A series of half a dozen short videos have been released by Youth Diversion to prevent inappropriate Internet activity.
The target of the videos is kids aged 10 to 12 who may not understand the consequences of sexting or posting photos they may regret.
They've created a hashtag #keepyourprivatesprivate
Youth Diversion Executive Director Joanna Conrad says the target is the kids, but it's also a good tool for parents.
"And I don't blame parents, we're all busy. People work, people have lives it's not something they perhaps have time to educate themselves about but a video like this, quick easy. Something parents can understand but also something that parents can bring back home to speak about with their kids"
Youth Diversion Case Manager Jodie Ouellette told of a young woman who had found potentially embarrassing pictures of a former girlfriend on her boyfriend's phone.
"That young lady did face charges and that's why she had met with us through diversion because she had accessed her boyfriend's phone and sent that photo to herself, right? Now looking at distributing child pornography and then from there sent them to other peers"
OPP Staff Sargeant Brad Sakalo applauds the idea of getting ahead of the issue with these videos.
OPP Staff Sargeant Brad Sakalo, applauding videos from Youth Diversion Windsor Essex, St. Clair College Mediaplex, June 19, 2018 (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"Prevention is far cheaper, far less impactful on people's live than having to undo the damage done by exploitation. So if these can generate some discussion in people's social circles in their homes, I think kids will start to appreciate the consequences of unsafe Internet practices"
Image from one of six videos produced by Youth Diversion Windsor Essex (courtesy Youth Diversion Windsor Essex)
The six videos were locally produced and cover subjects like "a boy she liked shared her photo" and "Now I understand the consequences of sexting."
Conrad is hoping the videos will go viral and help prevent youth from Internet activity they'll regret.