RCMP remind social media users to be cognizant of posts, comments, messages online

Dec 12, 2021 | 5:00 AM

With technology continually advancing, many people have access to almost anything at any given time.

With that, the Grande Prairie RCMP is reminding individuals to be aware and cautious of what they say and do on the internet.

“We just want people to be cognizant of what people post, comment, or message to another person when it’s online, especially when it’s in a threatening nature, harassing, or inappropriate content being sent,” said Cst. Lindsay Ralph.

Oftentimes Ralph says police have noticed individuals’ online and offline worlds intertwine, due to that 24/7 access to the internet allows people to have with each other.

“When we do choose to use social media they can have consequences outside in the real world, depending on of course what we’re doing on the internet,” she explained.

If an individual is receiving online threats, harassment, or receiving inappropriate content via social media, Ralph asks them to report it to their local RCMP detachment.

“Certain investigations or criminal charges that could be looked into is uttering threats, criminal harassment, there even cases of extortion, those are things we’ve investigated in the past.”

The City of Grande Prairie also has a bullying bylaw, which Ralph says is a municipal fine that someone could receive if it met the criteria.

by EverythingGP staff