THE Office of Censorship has launched a research initiative in Kimbe, West New Britain Province, to better understand the perspectives, experiences and attitudes of social media users, particularly children and young people in schools and communities.
The research forms part of the Office’s ongoing efforts to gather evidence on emerging censorship issues and the rapidly changing digital and social media environment in Papua New Guinea.
The research was officially launched on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Kulungi Village in the Talasea District by the Minister for Community Development, Youth, Religion and Censorship, Hon. Jason Peter.
The Minister was accompanied by Chief Censor, Mr Jim Abani, and members of the Office of Censorship team during the visit to the province.
The visit was significant as it reflected the Marape-Rosso Government’s vision of taking government services, programmes and awareness directly to rura communities.
 The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister and the Office of Censorship to engage with people at the community level, listen to their concerns and demonstrate the presence of government beyond urban centres.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Peter highlighted the importance of understanding the growing influence of social media, particularly among children and young people.
“We cannot over emphasize the impact social media is having on the people of this country. The research will assess the user behaviour of citizens and the impact of harmful social media content on the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable members of the society, including children and youths,” the Minister said.
“To address this growing concern, the Office of Censorship is now taking a crucial step by undertaking the research in Kimbe to investigate and analyse why many Papua New Guineans, especially children and youths who access different social media platforms do not comply to social media platform community guidelines and standards, and how it affects their lives.”
The research team will continue to visit schools across Kimbe to gather a broader range of views from students and communities.
Chief Censor Mr Jim Abani said the research was an important part of the Office’s efforts to better understand the changing media and digital environment in Papua New Guinea.
“As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the Office of Censorship needs to understand how people, particularly our children and young people, are engaging with social media.
Research such as this will help us develop informed and evidence-based approaches to censorship, awareness and community engagement,” Mr Abani said.
The findings are expected to assist the Office of Censorship and relevant stakeholders to better understand the social media environment and the challenges associated with the increasing use of digital platforms.
The research will also contribute to efforts to promote responsible social media use, digital awareness and online safety, while helping to protect children, young people and communities from harmful and inappropriate content.