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1. For the latest Covid-19 information from Government check out
2. Check reliable sources: On Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, look for the blue checkmark next to the page name like the Fijian Government page, Online Safety Commission page, and much more.
3. Verify the information: Look at whether other notable sources are sharing similar information. Don’t just trust one source of information.
4. Critically evaluate the information and consider whether it is true, false, fake, unverified and do not share immediately unless you have verified the information.

It is very important to talk to your children during this time about the information they may come across online. Teach them how to critically evaluate information they come across online. And make sure not to forward or share information that is not verified by notable sources such as the Fijian Government or World Health Organisation.

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The one day seminar was officially opened by Fiji Police Force Director SSP Serupepeli Neiko and helped participants understand the safety tools available for agencies to better cater for their respective citizens.

Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform and Fijians are no stranger to using the application daily. The platform helps us connect with family and friends around the world, communicate with loved ones about our daily activities and even share our thoughts on hot topics such as politics, education and more. The recent pandemic highlighted how technology, especially social media apps have become an integral part of our everyday lives.

It is important to be aware of simple security checks and privacy check up that you as a social media user can use to make sure that you are safe online. Although there is no 100% safeguard to the ills of being online, setting up important safety checks can help.

Some routine tips to keep in mind include:

• Changing your passwords to your accounts and not sharing them with anyone;
• Log off your social media account when you finish using is; and
• Being cautious of adding friends or following people you may not know offline.

Photo Credit: Fiji Police Force

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• only 38% of children admit to their parents/guardians that they have been bullied online;
• 33% of teens say they have sent explicit photos to someone else;
• more than 60% of children that have been harassed online have mental health issues; and
• more than 60% of female victims feel powerless because of online bullying

On a global level we see how such online abuse effects children of all ages. Across the central division in Fiji many students have also indicate experiencing online bullying at least once this year.

Children may not want to tell you if they are being bullied but here are some signs to look out for:

• Rapid increase or decrease in weight;
• Severe mood swings;
• Losing interesting in being around family and friends;
• Not wanting to go online anymore;

These changes are often subtle but vigilance is key. And having open dialogue about online safety and responsibility with your child is important.

What can I do to help?

Remember to remain calm and have an open conversation with your child. Let them know that they are not alone. Set up screen time and allow them to only use the devices in a common area such as the living room.

Fijians value community and we can express this same value in our online communities. Social media apps like Facebook give us an opportunity to build virtually any community we like. And this starts at home, stop the spread of online bullying by talking to your children today.

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Commission & Law Enforcement Fight For Fiji’s Safer Online Environment

After a year of establishment, Fiji’s Online Safety Commission is excited to announce that they’ve signed a memorandum of understanding with Fiji’s law enforcement agency to better protect individuals online.

The online landscape for Fiji is growing rapidly. And individuals continue to use the internet, social media, and other online platforms as part of their daily life experiences. The Commission was established to provide a space for individuals to raise their concerns of online abuse and find an appropriate form of redress.

This memorandum of understanding with Fiji’s law enforcement is put together with the intention of finding the best suited resolution for each matter. It is expected to be a long standing collaboration between the two agencies to provide Fijians with an avenue of resolving online abuse such as online bullying, image based abuse and much more.

The aim of this opportunity is to work in collaboration to resolve serious online abuse and work towards a strategy for raising community awareness to be safe online.

It was also important that this agreement allows for the ability for individuals who are faced with traumatic online abuse experiences to lodge a report with their nearest local police post. There has been a challenge of lodging reports with the Commission but in signing this agreement, individuals have an additional mechanism of visiting their nearest police post to lodge their report.

And Fijians can report directly online at www.onlinesafetycommisson.com or call the Commission’s complaints mobile (679) 9980242.

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For more information, contact (679) 9980231 or email info@osc.com.fj

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