Fiji Yet to Consider Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection has called for stronger online safety measures to protect children, following recent changes in Australia where social media use by kids under 16 was banned.

The Ministry stated that while Fiji’s Online Safety Act is a good start, more needs to be done to safeguard children online.

The Ministry emphasized the importance of parents having open conversations with their children about online safety, which can help kids feel safe asking for help if something goes wrong.

They also highlighted the need to teach children the "Four Rs" of the digital world—respect, resilience, responsibility, and reasoning—as key principles in online protection.

Additionally, the Ministry noted that children should be involved in the creation of new online safety rules to ensure they are both effective and relevant.

The Ministry stressed that protecting children online is an urgent and essential matter for their safety and well-being.