By Pita ligaiula
SYDNEY, (PACNEWS)-Children across the Pacific need stronger online safety education and protection as expanding internet connectivity exposes them to risks, they are not always equipped to manage, a regional study has found.
The study, conducted in Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea, found that limited access to digital technology has restricted children’s ability to develop the skills needed to identify and respond to online threats.
It warns that as affordable and faster internet becomes more widely available through new cable systems, governments, families, schools and communities must do more to protect children online.
The report, Online Safety in the Pacific, was produced by the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, ChildFund Australia and Plan International Australia.
Researchers conducted participatory workshops from December 2019 to March 2020 involving 96 children aged 10 to 18, 58 parents and carers, and 50 representatives from government, schools, police, telecommunications companies, non-government organisations and community groups.
The findings show that children value digital technology for education, communication, news and entertainment, but face risks including cyberbullying, hacking, harmful content and exposure to sexual or violent material.
Children also reported concerns about harmful influences on social media, while parents and carers worried about the impact of internet use on cultural values, relationships, health and children’s behaviour.
The report found that girls were perceived as more vulnerable to online risks and less able to manage them than boys, reflecting existing gender norms.
Despite these concerns, children who regularly use the internet generally expressed confidence in their ability to protect themselves. They identified strategies such as blocking harmful users and websites, protecting passwords, avoiding strangers and following advice from parents and carers.
However, some acknowledged they lacked the digital skills needed to keep themselves safe.
The report found that restrictions imposed by parents and schools to protect children could also limit their opportunities to develop the experience and skills needed to manage online risks independently.
“Parents and carers generally believe that restricting their children’s digital technology use best protects their children from online dangers,” the report said.
It found that 15 percent of parents and carers involved in the study prohibited their children from going online altogether.
While parents recognised their responsibility to protect children, many felt ill-equipped to provide effective guidance and support.
Children were most likely to seek help from a parent or carer, usually their mother, when facing an online threat. The study found they could identify few other adults or dedicated services to turn to for assistance.
Access to technology remains another major challenge. Nearly half of the children surveyed said they did not personally own or have regular and reliable access to a digital device.
The report identified the cost of devices and internet data as the main barriers, alongside poor connectivity, unreliable electricity and limited digital literacy.
Researchers said the uneven access to technology also affected children’s ability to understand and manage online risks.
“Limited access to technology has, to date, seriously impeded children’s development of the necessary literacies and protective behaviours to underpin safe online engagement,” the report said.
The study calls on Pacific governments to strengthen legislation and policies protecting children online, improve digital literacy training for parents and teachers, and ensure schools have safe and reliable access to technology.
It also recommends that governments work with technology companies to introduce safety-by-design measures, effective reporting systems and processes for removing harmful online content.
The report urges governments, donors and development organisations to invest in affordable devices, stable internet connections, reliable electricity and support services for children, particularly those in remote and vulnerable communities.
It also calls for online safety education to address gender-based risks and ensure girls and children with disabilities can participate safely in digital spaces.
The researchers stress that protecting children online requires a coordinated effort involving governments, families, schools, religious and sporting organisations, community leaders and technology providers.
The report recommends involving children and young people in decisions affecting their online safety and conducting regular research to track their access to technology, digital skills and experiences of online harm.
It concludes that expanding connectivity must be accompanied by stronger digital literacy and protection measures so children can benefit from technology without being left exposed to risks they are not prepared to handle….PACNEWS