Fiji Moves to Introduce Social Media Ban on Youths

Fiji has moved to impose its own version of a social media ban on young users.

The major Pacific country’s Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale said that work has already started on a new law, which he said would be adapted to the country’s own cultural environment.

The dedicated task force will study Australia’s approach, which was the first to introduce the ban globally in December last year.

Amid reports of compliance issues, other countries have moved or started their own bans including Brazil, the UK, Canada, France, Turkey, and New Zealand.

“Well, actually work has already started in terms of the task force that is tasked with exploring what we could adopt or learn from Australia and other countries that have implemented age restriction for social media,” he told The Fiji Times. That may include a different age threshold at which the ban would apply, taking into account the unique problems faced by Fijian children.

“And we have to be very practical as to how we implement this in terms of the resource allocation, what is practical and realistic.”

Batiwale said the government was currently working with consultants as part of the process to secure cabinet approval to begin developing legislation.

Australia’s social media ban covers Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, X, video sharing site YouTube and game streaming site Twitch.

Recently, the eSafety commissioner has also issued notices to gaming platforms Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Steam, requiring them to outline how they identify, prevent, and respond to the risks of grooming and radicalisation of children.