NO LONGER THE NORM A Legal Information Training Project on Sexting and Cyberbullying

Agenda 1. About Sexting 2. Statistics 3. Video 4. Potential Consequences 5. Consent 6. Law 7. Examples 8. Resources

Sexting? What is

Sexting: noun sex·ting \ˈsek-stiŋ\ The sending of sexually explicit messages or images by cell phone Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Cyberbullying? What is

Cyberbullying: noun \ˈsī-bər-ˌbu̇-lē-iŋ\ The act of bullying someone through electronic means (as by posting mean or threatening messages about the person online) Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Statistics National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy & CosmoGirl.com (2008). Sex and tech: Results from a survey of teens and Young adults.

How many teens send nude photos? 2 out of 10 teens

How many teens are sending sexually suggestive messages? Almost 4 out of 10 teens

How many teen girls say pressure from a guy is a reason girls send sexy messages or images? More than 5 out of 10 of teen girls

How many teens say they have had sexually suggestive messages originally meant for someone else—shared with them? Almost 4 out of 10 teens

How many teens think sending these messages can have serious negative consequences? 7.5 out of 10 teens

What are some potential consequences of sexting?

Consequences? Photo gets shared Embarrassment Cyberbullying Always on the internet Employment Criminal record Future relationships Family disappointment Bad reputation Suspension Expulsion College/University Siblings Self-esteem

#WordsHurt You send. She reacts.

Consent? What is

Consent: verb con·sent \kən-ˈsent\ To agree to do or allow something To give permission for something to happen or be done Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Law What does the law say about sexting?

Video

Law Activity

Making child pornography – Take sexual photos/videos of anyone who is under 18, is child pornography (163.1 [2]) Possession of child pornography - Having these photos saved is possession of child pornography (163.1 [4]) Distribution, etc. of child pornography - Showing these photos, forwarding them, or posting them on the internet is distributing child pornography (163.1 [3]) Obscene Publication 163.1

Knowingly publishing, distributing, or making available an intimate image of a person knowing that the person depicted in the image did not give their consent to that conduct, or not making sure that consent was given in the first place (162.1[1]) Example: taking a photo of someone that is nude or sending the photo without ensuring that consent was given in the first place Voyeurism 162.1

Bothering another individual to the point that they fear for their safety Such as: following them, communicating with them repeatedly, watching them or engaging in threatening conduct Example: constantly posting mean comments, or threatening messages to an individual Criminal Harassment 264.1

Threating to harm or damage/destroy personal property or doing something that causes another person to receive these threats Example: Using social media to threaten a fight or to hurt someone Uttering Threats 264.1

To compel another person NOT to do something which he has a lawful right to do Example: threaten repercussions if a person reports an offence to the police Intimidation 423

Trying to get something by threatening another person Example: If you don’t send me more photos, I will put this one online Extortion 346.1

-New offence for distribution of intimate images without consent -Give police more power to access people’s online information -Strengthens the language related to s. 162 around the importance of consent, and puts the principals of the 2001 ruling into the Criminal Code Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act 2015

What now? If your photo has been sent: – Report it – Delete it – Talk to someone – Take care of yourself

Questions?

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Law Foundation of Ontario through the Access to Justice fund. This project was developed by: