Digital danger: Fijian children lured, exploited through social media

Children in Fiji are increasingly at risk from online predators, cybercrime officials have warned.  
Bullying, sextortion, and child sexual abuse material are rising, with hundreds of complaints already reported this year.  
Authorities say young people are being drawn into harmful online relationships that later turn into blackmail and exploitation. 
Police cybercrime officers stressed that accountability begins at home.  
“Devices belong to parents, and parents must take responsibility for what their children do online,” one officer said.  
Families, communities, and authorities are urged to work together instead of blaming each other.  
Officials said predators were targeting children through social media and messaging apps at an alarming rate. 
The Online Safety Commission confirmed it has received 1226 reports of online harm this year, nearly matching last year’s total of 1377.  
Nineteen serious cases have been referred for prosecution.  
Abuse material has also been removed from the internet within hours through international partnerships.  
The commission highlighted sextortion as the fastest growing threat.  
Young people are forming online relationships overseas and are then pressured into sending money or explicit images under threat of exposure. 
Authorities emphasised that any sexual image of a child under 13 is classed as abuse material, and producing or sharing images of anyone under 16 is a serious crime, even if consent is claimed. Nearly 14,000 students have already been educated on online safety this year.  
Officials said prevention through awareness was a crucial tool in protecting children. 
Calls are growing for stronger laws, faster reforms, and more resources to safeguard children online.  
Officials reminded parents that children are “digital natives,” already using devices before they can speak.  
Avoiding taboo topics, such as sex and relationships, can leave children turning to unsafe online sources for information. 
The Ministry for Women, Children and Social Protection has also warned university students about the risks of sharing personal images and videos.  
Officials said requests to remove intimate content from dark websites were frequent, and what may appear harmless sharing at first often results in long-term trauma.