Since 2006, sexual offenses committed by minors have jumped 22,200% in Canada, an increase largely linked to the sharing of intimate images. Why has sharing these photos become so commonplace among our young people?
Last July, Statistics Canada revealed that the volume and severity of crimes reported by the police decreased by 4% in 2024. Nevertheless, since 2006, there has been a significant increase in sexual offenses against children committed by young people aged 12 to 17, up 22,200%! According to Statistics Canada's Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, the number of cases rose from 4 to 892 between 2006 and 2024. To better understand this worrying trend, we have examined more than a dozen judgments handed down by Quebec courts. We present two of them here, carefully summarized, to expose the reality behind the statistics and highlight the trivialization of sharing intimate images among teenagers.
But how do young teens go about obtaining nude photos from young girls? And how do the girls react when they learn that their intimate images are circulating on the Internet?
William before Judge Éric Hamel of the Court of Quebec
He is 13 years old. He attends a high school in Quebec. William pleaded guilty to 13 charges for events that occurred over an 18-month period. He is charged with 10 counts of luring a child using a computer, two counts of non-consensual publication of intimate images, and one count of distributing child pornography. The strategy of obtaining nude photos of young girls is widely used by teenagers at William's school. He wants to take part in this scourge because he lacks stimulation in the age of social media. William contacted 14 girls via social media, including Snapchat, where images, videos, and conversations disappear after viewing. He flirts with these young girls and leads them to believe that he is in love with them. In fact, William sends a photo of his penis or a photo of himself masturbating while asking the girls to help him by providing photos of themselves naked.
William then obtained several intimate photos of girls attending his school, which were sent to his cell phone for his personal use. He did not show these photos to anyone, except for the one of Lea, which he received unexpectedly while he was with his friends Nathan and Samuel.
The reactions of his victims
Lea is intimidated by William's friends at school because they stare at her. She is afraid and feels judged. Florence finds it difficult to trust men and has significant relationship issues. Florence has nightmares and feels anxious when she sees William at school. Emma is emotional and no longer knows which boys she can trust. Alice feels that William treated her like a sex object. In short, the victims trusted William at the beginning of their relationship, but then realized that they were part of a group. William had little or no feelings for them. He manipulated them to obtain nude photos of them. However, other victims feel that they did not suffer any harm since the exchange of intimate images was mutual.
Raphaël before Judge Dominic Pagé of the Court of Quebec
Raphaël is also 13 years old. He attends a high school in Montreal. Raphaël has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He has undergone neuropsychological testing to better understand and adapt his behavior. Raphaël has difficulty putting himself in other people's shoes. He is considered a somewhat immature teenager, but he does not have a delinquent profile.
Raphaël pleaded guilty to charges of possession of child pornography, making an intimate image of Olivia and Zoé accessible, and luring Zoé. Raphaël's strategy for obtaining nude photos of his victims was to sweet-talk them. In addition, his friend Léo had to convince Olivia to comply under threat. That is how Olivia and Zoé each sent their photos. Raphaël shared them with other young people at his school. He justified his actions by explaining that other boys had told him they had received intimate images of young girls, which prompted him to ask for some himself.
The reactions of his victims
Olivia and Zoé were 13 years old when they provided nude photos of themselves to Raphaël, who shared them with his friends. Olivia says she received threats from Léo, a friend of Raphaël's, to comply. The consequences were profound, as she considered Léo to be her friend, even her protector, but he used her to please Raphaël's circle of friends. Olivia's self-esteem was damaged. She had health problems. Olivia went through periods of self-harm and depression, culminating in a suicidal phase that required her hospitalization. She constantly fears running into the young people involved in the accusations.
For her part, Zoé isolated herself in her room, feeling guilty, having trouble sleeping, and being overwhelmed by dark thoughts. She fears the teenagers at her school. In addition, Zoé finds it difficult to enjoy what she does.
Explain to prevent and stop
What is happening in Quebec that young girls and boys are so casual about sharing intimate images of themselves? Why do girls so easily trust predatory boys on the internet? What role do parents and schools play in educating teens about digital ? Can the widespread consumption and normalization of pornography explain this phenomenon?
We need to collectively reflect on what is happening with our teenagers, because current approaches no longer seem to be working. Discussions about consent have not been enough to curb the normalization of sharing intimate images. This is a sign that something in the way we educate, support, and understand young people is no longer working.
Source: "Nudes": unprecedented explosion of sexual offenses among teens - Libre Média
