The New Reality: November 26

A stark warning from police agencies about a disturbing increase in online sexual exploitation of children. It’s known as sextortion — internet blackmailers target all youth, but the largest increase in cases involves teenage boys. Using online platforms, criminals coerce boys into sending sexually explicit content and then threaten to distribute the images if they don’t pay. The shame, fear and confusion can have deadly consequences. There are dedicated police teams fighting these types of crimes, like the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit. On this week’s episode of The New Reality, Dallas Flexhaug got rare access to this specialized group — on the frontlines of this online threat.