‘Sexting is porn’ campaign raises awareness in Châteauguay-area schools

Think twice before sending a sexual or erotic message or photo to someone — especially if you’re a minor, Châteauguay police are warning.

The force has launched a “Sexting is Porn” campaign, targeting thousands of students aged 12 to 17 — as well as their parents — to educate them about the risks of sexting and help teenagers cope if they should fall victim to a crime.

READ MORE: ‘Sexting’ – what is it and should parents be worried?

“If a situation should arise, it can have a big impact on the life of a student to have their photos out there,” said Jenny Lavigne, a community outreach agent with Châteauguay police.

“If a photo has been distributed, they must talk to an adult so they can intervene at school, with their parents, with the police so we can help them.”

READ MORE: What parents need to know about ‘ghost apps’ used to hide sexts

Sharing or possessing an intimate photo of another person can lead to an arrest — even if you’re underage.

View image in full screen

Lavigne said she has already dealt with a case involving children as young as 12 years old.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“We want the idea that sexting is porn to stay in their heads,” Lavigne told Global News.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We want the idea that <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/sexting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexting is porn</a> to stay in their heads," Lavigne told Global News.

“There’s a lot of prevention programs already for bullying and sexting, but young people still say to us, ‘oh, I didn’t know it’s porn because we’re young.’ They’re not always aware.”

WATCH BELOW: Is sexting dangerous?

Lavigne points out it’s important for parents to be involved in order for the campaign to work.

READ MORE: B.C. teen gets conditional discharge in child porn ‘sexting’ case

They will receive a letter from their child’s school; there will also be a number of posters on display in the schools’ hallways.

“We want parents to keep an eye out at home and speak to their children,” she explained.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We want parents to keep an eye out at home and speak to their children," she explained.

Since 2016, Châteauguay police have investigated over 30 child pornography cases — a growing phenomenon because “teens trivialize the risks.”

READ MORE: Police issue warning on ‘sexting’ after Ontario teens reprimanded over nude photos

“When you’re under 18 yeas old, naked photos are juvenile porn. It’s criminal.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When you're under 18 yeas old, naked photos are juvenile porn. It's criminal."

WATCH BELOW: The risks of sexting

Officers will present the campaign at the following schools:

• École secondaire des Patriotes-de-Beauharnois on Friday, Jan. 26
• École Gabrielle-Roy on Tuesday, Jan. 30
• École Louis-Philippe-Paré on Wednesday, Jan. 31
• École Marguerite-Bourgeois on Thursday, Feb. 1
• Howard S. Billings Regional High School on Friday, Feb. 2
• Collège Héritage de Châteauguay on Tuesday, Feb. 6

Students will have a chance to meet with authorities and social workers in a casual setting and even speak privately if they so wish.

READ MORE: Online safety tips every parent should consider

The campaign is in partnership with the Commission scolaire des Grandes-Seigneuries, the Commission scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands, the New Frontiers School Board, Collège Héritage and social workers at CALACS, a Quebec coalition of sexual assault centres.

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau