Alberta
“Butt out, Creeps”: ALERT issues sextortion warning
From ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team)
While the number of sextortion cases remains high for ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation team, the province-wide unit is launching a multi-media awareness campaign that says “butt out, creeps”.
“Butt out, creeps” is campaign to raise awareness and help youth get smart about sextortion. ALERT worked with DDB Canada to research and develop the campaign, which officially launched on social media channels earlier this month and has already generated over one million impressions.
The ads, featuring dancing eggplant and peach emoji characters, are running on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, online gaming platforms and can also be found on the web at buttoutcreeps.ca. The singing eggplant tells kids, “don’t be a wang, don’t be a boob, sending nude pics to strangers makes you look like a newb”. Meanwhile the peach character sings, “if someone you know asks you for a nude, tell someone you trust, then ghost that weird dude”.
“Sextortion cases are completely debilitating for youth and have become all too frequent – and it is happening inside our homes. We are hoping this campaign allows us to connect with youth online, and provide education and supporting resources in a manner that is accessible and noteworthy,” said Supt. Marc Cochlin, ALERT CEO.
The ads are aimed towards connecting with youth between 10 and 17 years of age, who ICE has found to be the primary target of sextortion cases.
Sextortion is where children, specifically boys, are being coerced into sending explicit images online and are then extorted for money, e-transfers, or gift cards. Predators often pose as girls of a similar age and use fake accounts to target youth. Investigating sextortion is challenging as the suspects are believed to be operating overseas, much the same manner as more traditional phone scammers.
The campaign’s primary message is to dissuade youth from sharing nudes online, but to “get smart about sextortion” by following a link to our website with resources and tips.
Last year, ICE received nearly 3,000 case referrals. Record numbers for Alberta as online child sexual exploitation offences have increased by more than 185% in the past five years.
While the ads are designed to connect more with youth, parents also play an important role in prevention. Studies show that 1 in 3 victims of sextortion never told anyone, largely due to embarrassment or shame. Resources for parents are also posted online at buttoutcreeps.ca.
About DDB Canada
DDB Canada is part of DDB Worldwide, one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. Known for advertising that generates significant results for clients, DDB Canada’s fundamental belief is that creativity is the most powerful force in business. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC).
About ALERT
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Integrated ICE teams investigate offences related to the exploitation of children over the Internet.
From the YouTube channel of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Members of the media join Premier Danielle Smith for a round table on January 21, 2025.
Yakk Stack By Sheldon Yakiwchuk
Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…
Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.
And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…
Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.
It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…
One thing is clear, however…
Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.
And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.
“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.
“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.
“She should put Canada first”, they echo…
And let’s just address these…
Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?
Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?
Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.
What does Alberta get from renewables?
A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.
When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?
No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.
Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…
As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.
And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…
The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.
Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…
None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…
Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…
If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.
Until then…
I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…
And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!
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