Thank you.
The prevalence of sexually explicit material has increased due to the widespread use of the Internet. It manifests in various forms, including visual representations, photos, videos, films, written content, audio recordings and print material. The volume grows exponentially day by day. The protection that we have for our children and for our adults isn't there on the Internet. Big tech companies need to take responsibility. I know that throughout the world now, there are more and more lawsuits where big tech companies are being held responsible.
When accessing sexually explicit material, some of the challenges that we are faced with include access to violent and explicit content that can impact sexual attitudes and behaviours, the harm to children through the creation, sharing and viewing of sexual abuse material, increased violence against women and girls, as well as sex trafficking. It can also influence men's views on women and relationships.
In my notes, I comment that we stereotype often that it is men who are violating others, but the offenders can be men and they can be women. They can also be other children—peer violence to peer violence. There is no one set rule on who is creating and who is causing, but we know that those who become traumatized and victimized can be anyone.
What more needs to be done? I'll just go through this quickly.
As an educator, I feel strongly that increasing education is crucial. The awareness and education needs to go to our children and our young adults and to our families.
We need stronger regulations and laws. Bill C-63 is one of them. I know that in the province of B.C., more legislation has been passed and is done.
We need to improve our online platforms and make them accountable. We need to increase parental controls and monitoring, and we need to encourage reporting.
We also need to promote positive online behaviours. Social emotional learning and social responsibility are part of the awareness and the education that needs to come on.
We need to be a voice. We need to stand up, and we also need to do more.
Thank you for the time, and I encourage questions so that I can finish reading my notes.
Thank you.