Alberta RCMP shares information with youth on cyberbullying and sextortion

September 16, 2026 - Edmonton, Alberta
From: Alberta RCMP

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Throughout September, the Alberta RCMP is sharing online safety tips with youth. Youth today can be put in vulnerable circumstances due to the internet, at times becoming victims to cyberbullying or sextortion, but by learning safe online practices, youth can better protect themselves and others. 

In the digital age, youth can protect themselves by learning more about the following: 

• Sextortion: A form of online blackmail in which someone threatens to share a sexual image or video of you unless you pay money or provide more intimate content. Offenders often pretend to be someone your age and manipulate victims into sending explicit media. They may use fake or incomplete social media profiles, quickly express strong feelings, or pressure victims to move conversations to private platforms where they can request intimate content. 
• Cyberbullying: The use of computers, smartphones, or other digital devices to embarrass, threaten, harass, exclude, or harm someone online. 

If you are a victim of sextortion: 

• Stop all communications with the offender. 
• Do not comply with any threats and do not send money, images, or additional content. 
• Save evidence, including screenshots of messages, usernames, profiles, and any images involved. 
• Deactivate, but do not delete, your social media account. 
• Do not accept new friend requests after disengaging – this could be the offender using a new profile. 
• Reach out to a trusted adult, parent, guardian, Elder, or another support person.  
• Report the incident: 
  • Cybertip.ca allows you to report online child sexual exploitation incidents anonymously.
  • Get help removing pictures from the internet at NeedHelpNow.ca.
  • Report the incident to the platform where it occurred.
  • Contact your local police service. 

If you are a victim of cyberbullying: 

• Do not respond to bullying messages or posts. 
• Save messages, screenshots, or other evidence. 
• Block and report the individual responsible.  
• Talk to a trusted adult, parent, guardian, Elder, or another support person.  
• Report the behaviour to your school or the website/app where it occurred. 
• Contact the police if you feel threatened or believe a crime has been committed. 

“If you are a victim of sextortion or cyberbullying, remember that you are not at fault, and help is available,” says Cst. Scott Sterling, ALERT Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit. “Youth can support one another by being active bystanders. If you witness cyberbullying or sextortion, speak up, offer support, and help connect victims with trusted adults and available resources.” 

For more information on online safety, visit Public Safety Canada’s Help for Youth, follow us on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta, Instagram @RCMPALBERTAGRC, X @RCMPAlberta, and on YouTube @RCMP-GRC Alberta. 

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