Digital safety for young people in Opsterland
Digitization has a major impact on the lives of our residents. That is why digital security is an important part of the Opsterland municipality's Integrated Security Policy 2024–2027, which has been in force since the end of 2024. This policy focuses on increasing the digital resilience of our residents, with special attention to vulnerable groups, such as young people.
BHS Gorredijk encounters 'sextortion'
Sextortion is a combination of the words 'sex' and 'extortion'. Sextortion occurs when someone is blackmailed with sexually explicit material, such as a nude photo, video, or chat conversation.
This month, students at BHS Gorredijk were introduced to this topic. Young people can become victims of online abuse, but sometimes they can also engage in inappropriate behavior themselves. New forms of online crime and abuse, such as sextortion, online bullying, and computer-generated fake images (deepfakes), increase the risks and make it important to address these issues at an early stage.
To raise awareness among students, the school, police, law enforcement, and municipality are working together. The topic was addressed during mentor lessons at the school. Students were able to discuss the theme and ask questions. Afterward, they will have the opportunity to participate in the police escape room bus.
What happens in the escape room bus?
In the special escape room bus, students play the game BL@CKMAIL. In it, they help a girl who is being blackmailed online: someone is threatening to distribute her private photos.
In small groups, the students are given fifteen minutes to solve puzzles and complete assignments. For each assignment, they earn a code, which they use to try to prevent the photos from being posted online. During the game, they encounter various online dangers, such as hacking and sextortion. This allows them to experience how quickly something can get out of hand online and how stressful such a situation can be.
Awareness of online behavior
Afterwards, there is a debriefing with the digital community police officers. They discuss what happened in the game, how it feels for the victim, how you can prevent this, and who you can ask for help if you experience something like this yourself. It is also emphasized that online abuse is never the victim's fault. Through the game and the debriefing, young people learn to think more consciously about their own online behavior. This way, they know better how to protect themselves and others on the internet.
Elementary school students became Cyber Agents
A significant step has already been taken for children in primary education. In 2025, pupils aged 8 to 12 took part in the HackShield program. This educational game makes children resilient to cybercrime by training them to become so-called Cyber Agents. They learn how to protect themselves and their environment against online risks. The program combines play and education and encourages children to make those around them aware of online safety.
In this way, we are working together to create a digitally safe and resilient generation in Opsterland.
