Students attending the Kila Kila Secondary School in Port Moresby have been encouraged to become responsible digital citizens by using social media and the internet wisely.
This message was highlighted on Tuesday during a Censorship Awareness Program conducted by the Office of Censorship at the school.
The awareness program, held, forms part of the Office of Censorship’s ongoing community outreach aimed at educating students about the office’s role and mandate, responsible content consumption, online safety and Papua New Guinea’s censorship laws.
Speaking during the awareness visit, Chief Censor Jim Abani challenged students to become responsible leaders, reminding them that they would shape Papua New Guinea’s future over the next 50 years.
He urged students to respect their teachers and guests, pay attention during school activities and make wise choices when using technology.
“Technology is here to stay. Use it wisely and do not abuse it,” Mr. Abani told the students, warning them against accessing harmful and inappropriate online content or spending excessive time on social media instead of using digital devices for education and research.
He also commended the school for its improvement over recent years, saying the school was selected for the awareness program because of the positive changes it has made.
Throughout the session, officers from the Office of Censorship delivered presentations on the organization’s role in regulating publications, films and digital content under the Classification of Publications (Censorship) Act.
They explained the office’s responsibilities, including classifying content, monitoring publication outlets, enforcing compliance and removing prohibited materials.
Students were also educated on digital citizenship, cyberbullying, misinformation, online pornography, media violence and protecting their digital footprint.
The officers encouraged students to verify information before sharing it online and to think carefully about whether online content is true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind before posting or forwarding it on social media.
Students were further advised on how to respond to cyberbullying by saving evidence, blocking offenders, reporting abusive content through social media platforms and informing parents, teachers or police where necessary.
The presentations also highlighted the importance of maintaining good online behaviour, respecting others on digital platforms and understanding that actions taken online can have lasting consequences.
During the interactive awareness session, students actively participated by answering questions and asking officers about online safety, responsible social media use and harmful digital content.
The officers and the Chief Censor responded to their questions and encouraged them to apply what they had learned in their daily lives.
School representatives thanked the Office of Censorship for conducting the awareness program, describing it as an important initiative that would help students become responsible users of digital technology while promoting a safer and more respectful online environment.