OPP reports average age of children self-exploiting online is five to nine

With incidents of online child self-exploitation increasing across the province, the OPP spoke with hundreds of families impacted in late September and found that many young children are putting themselves at risk.

Between Sept. 22 and 26, 14 police agencies from the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Strategy) focused on reports of children self-exploiting online.

Police spoke with 282 impacted families and noted that the average age of the children generating the material was between five and nine.

The Provincial Strategy coordinates law enforcement partners across the province to combat child sexual abuse on the internet. Strategy partners share information, resources and investigative techniques and coordinate on investigations.

“Provincial Strategy members urge all parents to remain vigilant and to intensify their involvement to further strengthen the collective effort to protect children from victimization,” read a statement from the OPP.

“Our most fundamental responsibility as a society is to protect our children from those who would do them harm. The internet is part of daily life and offers many benefits such as learning and communication opportunities, especially for children; however, it often leaves children vulnerable to unsafe situations.

“Just as you wouldn’t leave your child alone in a city, don’t let them navigate the online world alone,” said OPP Acting Detective Staff Sergeant Tara Clark, Provincial Strategy Coordinator.

Anyone with information regarding instances of child exploitation is asked to contact their local police or report any instances of online child abuse to at cybertip.ca.

A video highlighting the project is available on the OPP YouTube Channel. Members of the public are invited to learn more about how to keep children safe at Canadian Centre for Child Protection or cybertip.ca.

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