Skip to content

RCMP spreads message about digital citizenship

Digital citizenship is an issue that has been brought up at local school board meetings, with Cpl. Dave Henry making presentations to schools about responsible cellphone, computer, and social media use. Henry took the time to talk to the St.
It’s important for parents to know what their kids are doing online, and to have access to their kids’ phones and computers, says St. Paul RCMP’s Cpl. Dave
It’s important for parents to know what their kids are doing online, and to have access to their kids’ phones and computers, says St. Paul RCMP’s Cpl. Dave Henry, who talks to kids in local schools about digital citizenship.

Digital citizenship is an issue that has been brought up at local school board meetings, with Cpl. Dave Henry making presentations to schools about responsible cellphone, computer, and social media use. Henry took the time to talk to the St. Paul Journal last week about his presentations, and what parents should know and be aware of when it comes to their kids and digital citizenship.

St. Paul RCMP Cpl. Dave Henry has been in schools for years, talking to students about the use of cell phones and technology. And while issues like cyberbullying and sexting haven’t changed, the ages of the kids he is reaching and talking to about digital citizenship have undergone a dramatic shift, he says.

“It’s starting at age 10 to 12. When I started in St. Albert, it was 15, 16, 17-year-olds. Now, I’ve dropped to that (younger) age, because technology is so rapid and prevalent,” he said, adding in one Grade 5/6 class he was recently in, all the students had cell phones or iPods with Internet access.

While Henry doesn’t suggest hard and fast rules about ages and restrictions on cellphone or computer use, he stresses that parents should be monitoring their kids’ online behavior, being on the same social media as their kids, knowing their kids’ passwords, and having a relationship where they can see what’s on their kids’ devices.

When he hears kids of complain about invasion of privacy, or when he hears parents saying they want to respect their kids’ privacy, his response is incredulous.

“Are you kidding me? They don’t get privacy until they’re 18-years-old. Their brains are still developing, they’re still learning,” he says, adding that kids are not understanding that what they read, see and put up online is out there for the world to see. “There are kids in Grade 10 that don’t understand what w-w-w means – world wide (web) . . . They don’t understand all this crap is out there.”

Thirty years ago, students would hand each other notes or bully each other face to face, he notes, saying, “Now they do it online, and it’s there forever. It demolishes people.”

And these “keyboard warriors,” as he calls them, are willing to say and do things they would never do in person, with Henry saying he’s seen messages that would “peel your skin off.” If a child is guarded and not willing to let a parent or guardian see what he/she is doing online, it should be a red flag.

He says for himself, he has an app that allows him to see what websites his children are accessing.

“My wife and I, we can see what’s on each other’s phones – they’re all linked together. To me, it’s all about accountability, not just with your kids, but with each other.”

When Henry first started working with the RCMP and with students, they would show him their basic flip phones, which had limited capabilities and storage.

“Now phones can hold 32 gigs. That can hold a lot of pictures, a lot of destruction in there,” he said.

Teenagers, without even realizing it, are today’s biggest producers of child pornography, he says, adding he’s seen young girls devastated because of decisions to send intimate messages to boyfriends, who are only too willing and ready to share them with their friends.

“I’m telling girls, if a guy asks you for a nudie, break up with him, because he’s a loser. He has no respect for you.”

More and more, however, kids seem willing to come forward to the RCMP to talk about problems stemming from technology, perhaps partly because of a built relationship of trust, and perhaps partly because of an increase in digital and technology issues, said Henry. But some kids can also be masters at hiding information from adults, not wanting them to know the trouble they are in – and Henry notes children withdrawing can be a sign that something is amiss.

His advice to parents, he says, is simple – is to learn how to communicate.

“Have supper with them,” he says, adding it’s important for parents and kids to unplug from devices, and connect with each other, whether that’s at the dinner table, out on a fishing trip, or camping together.

“You’re not a fricking friend, you’re a fricking parent,” he said. “You, as a parent, you have to guide them and help them, help them make the best choices in their life.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks