By Ashley Wiebe

Girls becoming more cautious about sharing intimate images: police

Feb 17, 2017 | 4:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Technology has become part of our everyday lives.

Sharing details and photos about our lives with family and friends is second nature.

But teens are feeling the pressure to send intimate pictures of themselves and it only takes one click before that picture is shared with people who were never meant to see it.

“It is something that we’re seeing a rise in, but we’re seeing a rise because this is more of a social issue that we have,” said Constable Josh Argue with the Medicine Hat Police Service. “Everyone has a cell phone on them and it’s a very technological tool at their fingertips.”

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Sexting and sending intimate images is an issue more and more young girls are facing.

In many cases boys are asking girls for intimate pictures, even demanding them, which can be the start of a criminal investigation.

“We’re getting the information out that, you know, this isn’t okay,” Argue said. “If you’re not comfortable with what’s happening, that’s not okay.”

It’s a message Medicine Hat School District 76 teaches starting at an early age.

“If we can teach it in the elementary schools, if we can start there before these things start to become a problem,” said Tracy Hensel, associate superintendent of student services. “I think it helps kids to understand what they should be reporting, what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Those conversations seem to be working.

According to police, more girls are coming forward and asking for help.

A report presented to the Medicine Hat Police Commission on Thursday night said girls have become more cautious about sharing intimate pictures.

“It means that we’re doing our jobs, being in the schools,” Argue said. “We’re building the relationship, which is probably the most important part of our job as school resource officers.”

Hensel said it’s important everyone be involved in those conversations, including parents. She said it’s important they know what apps their children are using and who they’re talking to.

“I think parents are a really important part of that team, so knowing what your children are accessing on their phones, what sites they’re on, what they’re doing,” she said.

“We’re just learning as a society how to actually deal with this and how to conduct ourselves appropriately in our digital world,” Argue added.