Children need to be protected online, too

Right now, social media platforms provide those who are seeking to harm children with direct and unsupervised access to our kids 24–7, and the risk of harm is rising. Cybertip.ca witnessed a 36% increase in the overall online victimization of children¹ last year. Unlike offline, where governments have rules and regulations for companies and spaces that serve children, online guardrails simply do not exist. The responsibility and blame has entirely — and unfairly — been placed on parents.

Children now have devices wherever they go, making it impossible for parents to oversee all of their child’s online activity. Support the urgent need for change — Canada needs regulations that protect children online in the same way we ensure their safety offline.

How you can help

1. Tell your MP this is important to you

   Write, call, or email your Member of Parliament and let them know why you think it is critical that the government regulate online companies — the same as other industries are — to protect children.

   Here are some key points to help:

   • I believe that children need to be protected online as they are protected offline.
   • Canada currently lacks regulations for tech companies who control the platform where our children and youth spend a significant amount of their time.
   • Children are at risk online every day. Comparing 2021 to 2022, Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, saw the following report increases:
     • Overall online violence against children, 36%
     • Online luring 55%
     • Sextortion incidents, 62%
   • It’s not fair to place the blame on parents for failing to keep their kids safe in an environment that lacks rules to keep them safe.
   • Canada needs regulations for tech companies to protect our kids — they are our future, and should be our priority. Support the urgent need for change.

   How do I contact my MP?

   1. Go to Our Commons
   2. In the search bar labelled “Search current and past members by name, constituency or postal code,” enter your postal code
   3. Select your MP under the “Current Members” header
   4. Click on “Contact” — your MP’s email, constituency office address and phone number will be listed here
   5. For a pre-written statement, see below.

   Sample letter for your MP

   Dear MP ______,

   I am contacting you today because I believe that children need to be protected online as they are protected offline.

   Canada currently lacks regulations for tech companies who control the platform where our children and youth spend increasing amounts of their lives. Technology companies have had years to show they put children first, and continue to fail. A look at recent headlines easily shows that: https://protectchildren.ca/en/press-and-media/tech-timeline/

   Children are at risk online every day. Comparing 2021 to 2022, Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, saw the following report increases:

   • Overall online violence against children, 36%
   • Online luring, 55%
   • Sextortion incidents, 62%

   I’m contacting you because this is important to me. It’s not fair to place the blame on parents for failing to keep their kids safe in an environment that lacks rules to keep them safe. Toys and schools are regulated – why aren’t the platforms where our kids spend their time?

   Canada needs regulations for tech companies to protect our kids - they are our future, and should be our priority. I am asking you to support the urgent need for change.

2. Take our quick survey

   Join the 22,000+ individuals who have told us what responsibilities they think industry has in protecting children online.

   I’m ready to take the survey

3. Share this message on social media

   Children need to be protected online as they are protected offline.
   Help @CdnChildProtect demand change and make the internet a safer space for kids.
   It’s time to make tech accountable.
   Learn more: protectchildren.ca/demandchange

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1. 1 January 2021 - December 2021 vs. January 2022 - December 2022 ↩