Young people in PNG, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are the target of a new online campaign by the Save the Children in partnership with tech giant, Facebook in the hope to educate and empower youths to have more safe and positive experiences on Facebook.
Launched this week, the 5 week long campaign, “I am Digital” will highlight issues that are faced by the youths from this region and what to do if they find themselves victims of the many threats and cyber bullying faced online, especially Facebook.
Save the Children PNG Deputy Country Director Rosario Sam said they have engaged students from various universities in the country to better identify the issues that are on Facebook and how they (Save the Children PNG) can help provide tools and platforms to avoid such experiences.
“We are at the back of this children to create such initiative like this to help them empower themselves and also by engaging them as contributors in this campaign,” said Ms. Sam.
“This online campaign allows young people to lead the program for themselves and we from behind can support and identify any gaps and then identify any support so we can contribute meaningfully to the campaign.”
She further said that with the modern access of internet, something very new to our culture, parents and adults must begin to address issues at home.
“Parents need to get to start open dialogue with their children so they do not end up online searching for questions that will end up compromising their safety on the internet,” Ms. Sam said.
“I am Digital” campaign will only take us forward and ensure that young people are online to learn, to share and to create an environment on Facebook that they are connected and for parents to ensure of the risks that are involved and that these youths are protected.
This is the first of its kind for Facebook to partner with the Pacific region and launch such campaign with the intent to make sure everyone has a positive experience when on Facebook.
