Online sexual abuse of children is becoming ever more closely linked to offline exploitation, with social media trends fuelling a rise in the sharing of explicit images among Fiji’s teenagers.
Speaking during the Symposium on Child Sexual Abuse in Fiji, Manager Outreach for the Online Safety Commission Samuela Finau says the Commission’s casework “strongly supports the global finding that online sexual abuse of children is rarely confined to the online environment alone,” noting that most victims reported to the OSC are aged between 13 and 17.
Finau says majority of cases involving image-based abuse, including sexually explicit materials and exploitation, stem from social media pressures.
Beyond image-based abuse, Finau says the Commission also sees high levels of cyberbullying, often driven by jealousy related to sports or changing friendships, and an increasing number of online grooming cases, many emerging from gaming platforms.
He stressed that Fiji’s frontline workers, service providers and policymakers must urgently build their understanding of online environment, trends and language.
He says teenagers’ digital vocabulary shifts rapidly, and many adults are unaware of common gaming terms or online behaviour.
Finau confirms that the OSC is working with the Department of Children to train parents and young people on emerging digital threats and online safety practices.
He is also urging adults to educate themselves on the platforms, games and digital cultures their children engage with daily, saying that without this understanding, Fiji cannot effectively respond to the rapidly evolving landscape of online child sexual abuse.
