Traffickers Exploit Social Media, Targeting Vulnerable Individuals

Parents' lack of digital knowledge is inadvertently creating fertile ground for traffickers who are now leveraging social media to target vulnerable individuals, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become recruitment grounds for traffickers seeking to exploit victims, with young people and domestic workers being particularly at risk. Sera Raisulu, IOM Project Coordinator for Trafficking in Persons, highlighted a growing concern: the widening gap between digital connectivity and digital literacy.

"We're working very closely with the Fiji Police Force for the last few years, implementing projects relating to cyber or online safety and trafficking of persons," Raisulu explained. "One thing that came up really strongly when we started the project when we consulted with our partners and the government is the gap between digital connectivity and digital literacy."

Raisulu noted that many young people possess superior technological skills compared to their parents, often teaching them how to use mobile phones and laptops. This dynamic makes it increasingly challenging for families to recognize and mitigate the online risks their children may encounter. To combat this, the IOM is partnering with the Fiji Police Force to bolster awareness campaigns and strengthen community responses.

Key initiatives include the Fiji Anti-Trafficking Intelligence Report System, which provides a channel for individuals to report suspicious activities directly to the Police Human Trafficking Unit. The organization strongly advocates for improving digital literacy among parents, viewing it as a fundamental step in safeguarding children from online exploitation.

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We're working very closely with the Fiji Police Force for the last few years, implementing projects relating to cyber or online safety and trafficking of persons and one thing that came up really strongly when we started the project when we consulted with our partners and the government is the gap between digital connectivity and digital literacy.