ALERT team brings critical online safety talk to Blackfalds and Ponoka parents

Parents in Blackfalds got a candid and eye-opening look at the risks facing their children online during an April presentation from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit.
Stephanie Bosch, a member of the ICE unit, said the presentation is designed to give parents both a sobering understanding of online exploitation and practical tools to help their children navigate today’s digital world.
“A lot of parents think, ‘this won’t happen in my house, this won’t happen to my kids,’ but unfortunately that’s just not the reality,” Bosch said in an interview. “Kids are living their lives online, and while exploring their identities and even their sexuality online isn’t inherently bad, it does carry risks.”
The session outlines the work the ICE unit does to combat online child exploitation across Alberta. Bosch says about 80 per cent of cases involve criminal activity parents can’t help prevent — such as the distribution of child sexual abuse material. But the remaining 20 per cent — cases involving extortion, luring, or self-exploitation — are where parents can play a key role.
“We don’t go in and say, ‘take your kids’ phones away.’ That’s not realistic,” Bosch said. “Instead, we stress the importance of early and ongoing conversations, so that when something goes wrong online, kids know they can come to their parents.”
Bosch said one of the biggest surprises for parents is realizing just how common it is for young people to be drawn into risky online behaviour without understanding the consequences. She emphasized the importance of creating a home environment where kids can admit mistakes without fear of punishment.
“We tell parents, ‘your kids are sexting — you need to accept it,’” Bosch said. “It’s not about scare tactics. It’s about building trust so kids will come to you if they’re being threatened or if something has gone wrong.”
The presentation also touches on the growing role of artificial intelligence, including concerns over “deepfake” technology, where AI can be used to generate fake explicit images. Bosch said while her unit hasn’t yet seen a flood of AI-generated cases, schools are reporting more incidents where fake images are being used to bully or harass students.
Bosch encourages parents to approach online safety the same way they would teach their kids to swim.
“You wouldn’t just throw your kid in the pool at 16 without lessons,” she said. “It’s the same with the online world — you need to prepare them, long before they’re fully on their own.”
The ALERT ICE team will deliver the Ponoka presentation on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at 4900 54 Street (Block A), South Entrance.
Parents are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to help keep their kids safe online.