YOU have got to look at this surge in online bullying and wonder what in the world is happening to us! Online bullying complaints are on the rise, with women accounting for nearly two-thirds of complainants. That is sad. It is certainly a poor reflection of how we treat our women.
Fiji’s Online Safety Commissioner has warned that banning social media will not fix bad behaviour without stronger accountability and a change in attitudes at home and in the community. That makes sense. The real question is how we address these concerns and deal with them effectively.
Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale believes harmful online behaviour would persist even if individual platforms were restricted, as offenders could simply move to other digital spaces.
That makes the challenge complex. The power of digital platforms lies in their accessibility and the ease with which people can engage with others.
In an exclusive interview with The Fiji Times, Mr Batiwale said banning applications would not eliminate bad behaviour, as offenders could readily shift to Facebook, Instagram, messaging applications or other platforms.
The Commission received 406 online bullying complaints in 2025, nearly three times the 148 recorded in 2024. Another 294 complaints were received between January and August this year.
Women accounted for 63 per cent of complainants during that eight-month period, compared with 59 per cent in 2025.
The figures reflect an increase in complaints. The Commission recorded 1608 cases in 2025, about 17 per cent more than the 1377 in 2024. A further 935 complaints were lodged between January and August this year.
Mr Batiwale acknowledged growing public frustration over harmful content repeatedly circulating online, noting that some reported behaviour was deeply troubling.
It is frustrating when abusive content continues to circulate and efforts to address it appear insufficient.
The Commission recorded 253 electronic communications removals between January and August this year, exceeding the 175 recorded throughout 2025. Facebook was most frequently identified in complaints during the eight-month period, with 473 cases, followed by TikTok with 232.
Mr Batiwale said suspected criminal conduct was referred to the Fiji Police Force, including its Cyber Crime Unit.
Twenty-six matters were recorded under the unit’s referral status between January and August this year, while separate operational records were being reconciled to prevent double-counting.
We say addressing online abuse requires enforcement, education and greater responsibility from technology companies. People must learn to use digital platforms safely, while service providers must be held accountable.
Given the easy access to social media in Fiji, we say awareness must start at home. And for this, parents and guardians need guidance to understand online connectivity, privacy and the consequences of abusive behaviour.
We must respect people’s right to use these platforms while protecting their dignity and privacy. Tackling this problem demands vigilance, responsibility and common sense. And let’s not talk just about this. Cut that out. Enough of that.
Let’s address this massive challenge. Let’s pull out all stops! Otherwise, we may as well bow down to the tag: Toothless tigers!
Ultimately, the values we teach our children and the example we set as adults matter as much online as they do in our homes and communities. We should make respect the norm, on screen and off it!
