The YouthLink Calgary Interpretive Center held its annual youth Cyber Summit on March 19th, helping raise awareness about potential threats on Calgary children.
In the first annual summit the program focused on how to safely navigate the complex world that is in the internet. Deputy Chief, Cory Daley of the Calgary Police service spoke on how gang members and recruiters shifted to focus on young individuals.
Daley says that gangs have changed the ways they recruit, shifting their communication to strictly online attacks through chat rooms such as Discord and Reddit.
“Members look for empty chat rooms where kids may be looking for friends or an escape from their everyday life, that is when they are promised a life of money and given a place to feel accepted,” said Daley
“Education is the first step to prevention.”
The second annual event brought students from Dr. Gordon Higgins Junior High School, allowing them to meet experts in crime prevention and the Calgary Police Service who talked about real life experiences they’ve had in the line of service.
Students were able do hands on workshops provided by the centre and were presented with weapons seized from youth crimes, demonstrating the dangers that come with criminal involvement.
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