Mother-of-two Cheyenne O’Connor is in the early stages of the project, which she says she plans to fund herself. Her goal is to produce information about various safety features and privacy settings on apps such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and Meet4U, among others.
The 26-year-old said she was responding to requests from parents and using the knowledge of the apps that she had gained through her work snaring sexual offenders.
‘The privacy and safety settings on some of these apps is not great but there are things you can do,’ said Miss O’Connor, whose work has led to the conviction of numerous sex offenders in Jersey, Guernsey and the UK.
Monday marked national Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week. According to figures, since August 2018 the Island’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub has engaged in 12 investigations into alleged sexual exploitation of children in the Island. Child sexual exploitation involves under-18s being pressured to perform sexual acts. Grooming can often take place in person or on social media.
Miss O’Connor, who has also organised a petition and a public rally to call for stronger sentences for convicted child sex offenders, says she plans to distribute the booklets herself at events or at schools. She is yet to contact the Education Department.
Her petition, which expires in July, has attracted more than 2,800 votes. It needs 5,000 to be considered for debate in the States.
‘I thought we would have the 5,000 by now because there are plenty of keyboard warriors who say they want change. ‘‘
‘Well, what I say is, ‘‘Sign the petition, then’’.’
