RCMP Constable Gord Olson with the Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) has been speaking to students in rural Manitoba and he made a stop in the southcentral part of the province last week.

These presentations were about the dangers of misusing the internet and social media. It walked participants through a scenario, showcased resources for support, and outlined the implications of online bullying as well as the sharing of intimate pictures.

"Most kids today they are out on app's and devices and are getting caught in things whether it's with people they know. It could be a boyfriend/girlfriend situation or could be with people they don't know," said Olson. "They are getting talked into sending pictures of themselves either provocative pictures or pictures that actually meet the definition of child pornography, which is basically a nude picture of a child under the age of eighteen."

This was an opportunity for the students and parents to be informed of the laws about sending, having, or sharing these types of pictures with anyone. It was also a chance for the youth and parents to ask questions regarding this topic.

"A lot of kids think, it's my body I can do whatever I want. I guess that's sort of correct, but not once you get into the laws of the world, where it's illegal to have a picture of a child under eighteen that has no clothes on. You have to start looking at it that way. I think that's a bit of a surprise to some of the kids. It's just the educational piece of it," said Olson.

He continued and said the use of social media is great and all, but we have to be smart in how we use it.

Olson would like for everyone who is in attendance at these presentations to walk away knowing what they are doing when receiving and or sending a picture of this nature. He added there has been times when he's done his presentation and the students have been talking about it after they had left and have had more questions for him.

"Yesterday, when I was all done my presentations I had about an hour at the end of the day and they brought me into one of the classrooms and they (the students) had all of these questions," explained Olson. "They are having conversations when they leave, in the school and are going home and talking about it. I know the parents, when we do a parent night, like we did last night (Monday), they come and say 'Hey, I don't know what you said to my kid, but they came home and were engaged with it'."

He would like to think the students are learning and taking away the message he's trying to portray and are going to think about what consequences may come from sending an illicit photo or sharing it with others.