Join us on Wednesday, November 4th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents Who Is Most at Risk? Teens, Sexual Violence Online, and Help-Seeking, featuring Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes from DIY: Digital Safety.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
12 – 1:30pm MST
Nearly one in three Canadian teens has experienced technology-facilitated sexual violence, from unwanted sexual images to pressure to share nudes, sextortion and deepfakes. But risk is not shared equally. Drawing on a national survey of over 1,000 teens aged 13–18, Dr Kaitlynn Mendes (Western University, DIY: Digital Safety) shows that girls, 2SLGBTQ+ teens, neurodivergent teens and teens with mental health conditions face up to twice the risk of their peers, with harm rising sharply after age 14. The talk also looks at who teens turn to when something happens, and whether that help works. Parents and friends are the front line, while schools and platforms often fall short. Racialized, Indigenous and French-speaking teens face extra barriers to getting effective support. The session closes with practical implications for policy makers, educators and services working to support young people.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes, PhD, is a Sociology Professor at Western University, where she also holds the Canada Research Chair in Inequality and Gender. She also leads the DIY: Digital Safety project which has gathered information from over 2,000 Canadian teens about their experiences of online harm. Kaitlynn has been doing this work for over a decade and is passionate about taking this knowledge to make digital spaces safer for everyone.