Miss Samoa: Pacific respect must extend online to curb bullying

Miss Samoa Feagaimaali’i Soti Mapu delivered a deeply moving research presentation focused on bullying — both physical and cyber — warning that it remains a serious and growing issue across the Pacific.

Speaking during the Miss Pacific Islands public judging at Tanoa Hotel in Nadi, she called for a return to Pacific cultural values to address bullying in schools, communities and online spaces.

“Bullying, both physical and digital, is an issue that continues to cripple our communities today,” she said.

Grounding her platform in Samoan philosophy, she highlighted le va tapu-ia, the sacred relational space that governs interactions and respect among people.

“When you strike someone with your fists, when you wound someone with hateful words, when you shame someone online before the world, the va is broken,” she said.

She emphasised that respect is a cornerstone of Pacific cultural identity and argued that if it is upheld within traditional settings, it must also extend into digital spaces.

“The internet is not exempt from cultural protocols,” she said. “Our digital spaces should reflect the same values we uphold in our villages, our churches and our families.”

“Speak with respect, know your place, maintain honourable interactions, do no harm with your words,” she urged, reminding the audience that online platforms do not excuse cruelty.

Citing research, she said 61 per cent of cyberbullying victims in Fiji were women, most commonly targeted on Facebook and TikTok.

“In our small island communities, the same child can be bullied at school, on the bus, in the village, and then again on their phone at night,” she said.

She said global evidence linked bullying to depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

“An attack on one is an attack on all,” she said.

Miss Samoa also called for stronger laws to criminalize technology-facilitated abuse and for survivor-centered support systems across the Pacific.

She urged families to begin protection at home and shared a Samoan proverb: “When our children are nurtured and safeguarded within the home, they are better equipped to face the challenges of life.”

“Restoring dignity that, to me, is transformational,” she said.