Families must adapt carefully to digital lifestyles, says vendor

A market vendor is calling for greater awareness and preparation as Fiji continues moving towards a more technology-driven and electricity-dependent society.

Elaisa Turagaloaloa, 57, originally from Taveuni and now selling produce in Suva and occasionally Rakiraki, said families and authorities needed to better prepare for the growing reliance on digital systems and online platforms.

She said modern development had brought many benefits, but it was also creating pressure on low-income households struggling to cope with rising electricity use and changing lifestyles.

Ms Turagaloaloa said that many services and jobs were gradually shifting online, and she believed more households would eventually depend on solar energy and digital technology in the future.

However, she warned that families who failed to manage electricity use responsibly could face unnecessary financial hardship.

She stressed that parents and elders had an important responsibility to guide children on the proper use of technology and household resources.

“Nowadays many things are online, and children are adapting fast,” she said.

“Families need to strike a balance between modern technology and traditional discipline at home.”

Ms Turagaloaloa also expressed concern over children’s growing exposure to the internet and screen time, saying online entertainment should be monitored and used mainly for educational purposes.

Despite her concerns, she acknowledged that change was unavoidable and people had little choice but to adapt as lifestyles continued to evolve.

She also urged Government authorities to consider the realities faced by vulnerable families when developing policies linked to modernisation and technology use.