A primary school student in Nadi has emerged as the youngest victim in a troubling trend involving the exchange of nude images and videos for money and other favors. This alarming situation was brought to light by Alice Fong, a Divisional Counsellor for the Ministry of Education West, during a women’s conference held at the Gurukul Primary School in Lautoka.
At the conference, Ms. Fong stressed the importance of parental vigilance in monitoring their children’s online activities, particularly in relation to social media. She noted that the difficulties parents now face have significantly increased compared to 10 or 20 years ago.
One of the issues she highlighted involved a social media platform called Telegram, where minors are reportedly sharing explicit content in exchange for various rewards, including cash, phone recharge cards, and even new phones. Ms. Fong mentioned that the case of the youngest victim involved a primary school student being exploited in this manner.
Additionally, Ms. Fong raised concerns about young girls who skip school for other activities, indicating this behavior among Year 6 and Year 7 students, some of whom travel from Nadi to Lautoka instead of attending classes. She urged parents to actively engage with their children about the potential dangers of such behavior and to serve as positive role models.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro expressed his deep concern regarding the disturbing trend of students trading explicit images for money or other items. He highlighted the shared responsibility of parents, the community, and educational institutions in safeguarding children from exploitation.
Radrodro called for increased awareness among parents about the challenges posed by modern technology and reiterated the importance of preparing children adequately for school and life.
In an earlier statement, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sakeo Ganivatu encouraged parents to take their responsibilities seriously and to limit their children’s access to mobile devices. He emphasized that engaging children from a young age is crucial for their development, and he urged parents to dedicate time to their children, suggesting that even small amounts of time spent together can significantly impact their well-being and success.
Ganivatu pointed out that many parents underestimate the importance of their involvement in their children’s lives, noting that a large part of a child’s day is spent in school, and the remaining time should be used to foster healthy habits and behaviors at home.