Safer Internet Day: Have the Online Safety Talk

The second Tuesday of February is Safer Internet Day. It's an opportunity to recognize both the potential benefits and risks that come with technology. The Chilliwack School District is sharing the following message from the RCMP with students, staff, and families.  

The digital world is a big part of our kids’ lives — and with it come real risks. This includes sharing images, creating or altering images using artificial intelligence (AI), and forwarding content to friends without fully understanding the consequences.

Many young people don’t realize how quickly an image can spread, how easily AI can be used to create realistic fake images, or how difficult it can be to undo the harm once something is shared online.

Safer Internet Day is a great reminder to check in with your children and keep the conversation about online safety open and ongoing.

What parents and caregivers can do:

Place computers and devices in busy family areas like the kitchen or living room.
Monitor online activity regularly and stay involved.
Start teaching safe and respectful online behaviour from a young age.
Help teens understand that anything posted or shared online — including AI‑generated images — can become public, even if it’s sent “as a joke” or to a small group of friends.
Talk about how creating or sharing altered, fake, or AI‑generated images of others can cause serious harm, including embarrassment, emotional distress, damaged reputations, and legal consequences.
Remind youth that consent matters — just because technology allows something doesn’t mean it’s okay to do it.
Talk casually and often about online activity, so digital safety becomes a normal part of everyday conversations.

How to talk to your kids about AI and online images:

Stay curious. Ask what apps or tools they’re using and who they are engaging with online.
Avoid lectures. Focus on real‑world impacts rather than rules alone.
Use scenarios. Ask how they would feel if an altered or fake image of them was shared.
Reinforce trust. Let them know they can come to you if something online makes them uncomfortable or if they make a mistake.
Emphasize responsibility. Help them understand that their online choices can affect others — and themselves — long after the moment passes.
Open communication helps children and teens make safer, more respectful choices online — today and as technology continues to change.

See the RCMP Media Release: Safer Internet Day: Have the Online Safety Talk | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.