Shared responsibility

ON this day last year, we wrote about AttorneyGeneral Siromi Turaga highlighting the crucial role of parents and guardians in protecting children online.

It may not attract attention for many people today, but it is an important topic of discussion none-the-less.

Mr Turaga made the comment while closing the Safer Internet Day deliberations organised by the Online Safety Commission (OSC) in Suva that week.

However, framing online safety solely as a parental responsibility does give off an incomplete picture.

Safer Internet Day serves as a reminder that ensuring children’s well-being in the digital world requires a collaborative effort from individuals, families, communities, and institutions.

While parents play a vital role in setting boundaries and monitoring online activity, that responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on them.

We need schools, and other stakeholders including tech companies, and policymakers to be engaged.

We need young people empowered, and there is a need to definitely strengthen tech safeguards.

That means encouraging tech platforms to prioritise user safety. Then there is a need to consider effective legislation that deters such things as cyber bullying for instance, and the protection of our privacy and obviously, holding platforms we use, accountable for harmful content.

While monitoring children’s online activity is essential, it’s not enough. There has to be room for open communication and building trust.

There are statistics that underscore the psychological impact of negative online experiences. We must address broader societal issues that contribute to cyberbullying, online harassment, and problematic social media use.

We definitely need to create safe spaces for online interactions and promote responsible digital engagement.

Then there is the bit about tackling the root causes of cyberbullying through targeted interventions and support services.

There are many reasons to be concerned about the negative influence online activity can have on our children.

Far too many parents and guardians are now falling back on mobile phones and the internet to keep their children occupied. It has crept into valuable family time, and that important parent-child interaction time for many families. That’s taken a massive hit on behaviour in some instances.

So lest we forget, while the internet is obviously important for the development of a nation, and does have many advantages, there are also pitfalls that we should be keeping an eye out for. Again, we say this is an important topic for discussion.

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, safeguarding our children requires a shared commitment. By working together, we can create a safer and more enriching online environment for all.