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Independent consultant speaks on internet safety

Val Caldwell, an independent consultant from Hamiota, has been traveling across Manitoba and Saskatchewan to educate schools and communities on the critical topic of internet safety and child protection. Val, who speaks to young people about online dangers, shared, “My main focus is to speak to as many kids as I can to try and keep as many kids as I can safe.”

Origins of the mission

Val’s journey into internet safety began during her work with Child and Family Services in western Manitoba. She explained, "We started to notice the stresses in parents were changing. They were shifting from questions about discipline to questions like, ‘Should I give my 12-year-old a phone?’” When she found that resources were lacking, she created her own, first for adults, then for students, working with an RCMP officer to develop age-appropriate content for various school grades.

Addressing difficult conversations

As online exploitation cases rise, Val emphasizes the need for proactive conversations with youth. “We’re seeing these issues now even in elementary school. With younger kids, we ask age-appropriate questions, like, ‘Has anyone ever sent you something that makes you feel uncomfortable?’” Her goal is to make sure that youth have the tools they need to protect themselves online.

Understanding sextortion

Val shared a sobering reality about sextortion, which involves intimate images being used against someone for money or more explicit content. “They would target the area of Winkler, try and add multiple kids on Instagram, and infiltrate communities,” she explained, noting that boys are typically targeted for money and girls for additional images.

Val addressed the misconception that online exploitation doesn’t happen in smaller towns. “I’ve seen it in the majority of, if not all communities that I've been in. There has been some situation where someone has received something, or someone has been sextorted.” She reminded parents that impulsive choices can happen to any child with a device, as they seek validation from peers and online contacts.

Strategies for prevention

In her presentations, Val not only works with youth but encourages parental involvement. She advises parents to keep open communication and not to react judgmentally when children come forward. “Kids should have an adult they feel they can talk to, whether it’s at home, school, church, or in sports.” She pointed out that fear of disappointing adults is a bigger deterrent for kids than losing device privileges.

An evening for parents and caregivers

An internet safety session for parents and caregivers will take place on October 30th at Garden Valley Collegiate from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. She shared, “The intention for that night is to bridge the gap. I just want to help adults understand the world kids are in, and how we support them in that world.” Val’s sessions offer a candid look at the realities kids face online, equipping adults with tools to help navigate the digital age with their children.

Resources for Ongoing Support

For those unable to attend, Val offers additional resources on her social media pages. "I created this space just to share information with parents,” she said, adding a recent example of using AI chat to simulate a conversation as a 14-year-old. “It shows how quickly kids can be manipulated online,” she said. Her advice is not to demonize technology but to strike a balance. “It’s OK to have it as part of their life. We just don’t want it to be all of their life.”

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