Online recruitment of teens into crime and extremism
Police in Montréal report more offers online that pay teens to commit crimes, and Canada has listed violent extremist networks that recruit young people through social media and gaming platforms as terrorist entities.
Should I worry?
Police and the federal government both say young people are being targeted online, either with offers of money for committing crimes or by violent extremist networks that recruit and radicalize them. Teens recruited this way can be exploited, pressured into staying and, in some cases, face criminal charges. Warning signs include sudden money or gifts with no clear source, new online contacts who push the conversation onto private or encrypted apps, secrecy about who they are talking to, and a new interest in violent or hateful content. Keep the conversation open, ask who they talk to online, and tell them that no offer of easy money from a stranger is ever safe. If you suspect a minor is being used for crime, contact police and keep any messages as evidence.
How to join in
Teens spend a lot of time on social media and in online games, where they talk with people they have never met, and that is where these recruiters show up. Offers of quick money or a sense of belonging can seem appealing, especially to a teen who feels bored, broke or left out. A good way in is to ask what their online friends are like, how they decide whether to trust someone they have only met online, and whether anyone has ever offered them money or a "job".
Try saying
“I've read that some people online offer teens money to do things for them, or try to pull them into hateful groups. If anyone ever does that to you, even if it seems small, I want you to tell me, and you won't be in trouble. I'd rather hear it from you early than have you stuck in something that is hard to get out of.”
If you’re worried
If a young person is in immediate danger, call 911. If you know of a minor being used for crime, contact your local police, or give anonymous information through Info-Crime Montréal if you are in Montréal. The RENFORT line offers free, confidential support about armed violence. If sexual exploitation is involved, report to Cybertip.ca. Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868, or text 686868) is there for young people, and 988 is available for anyone thinking about self-harm or suicide.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.