The teenage years arrive with energy, independence, friendships, emotions — and a whole world of digital possibilities. Fiji’s young people aged 11 to 16 are increasingly connected: TikTok, Instagram, Roblox, gaming groups, WhatsApp, Snapchat, online schoolwork, and digital trends that move faster than ever.

As 2025 comes to a close, this is the perfect moment for families to reset expectations, strengthen communication, and help teens stay safe and grounded.

At the Maroroi Project, we believe teenagers don’t just need rules — they need understanding, trust, guidance, and safe boundaries.

1. Keep communication open — without judgement

Most teenagers shut down when they expect punishment.
They open up when they feel heard. Ask questions gently:
“What’s trending right now on your feed?”
“What’s something online that made you laugh this week?”

2. Talk honestly about peer pressure and online drama

This age group is deeply influenced by friendships and reputation. Help them recognise toxic group chats, anonymous pages, cyberbullying, and gossip cycles — and teach them the power of stepping away. Especially if you think they didn’t see, they probably did and just don’t know how to talk about it openly with you. So keep it calm, safe, simple and open ended.

3. Discuss body image and comparison culture

Teens today see filtered photos, unrealistic influencers, and aesthetic standards 24/7. Equip them with truth: “What you see online is not the whole story.”

4. Set boundaries with them, not for them

Work together on expectations for apps, gaming, screen-free times, and consequences. Most teens cooperate when they feel respected and included.

5. Strengthen privacy knowledge and digital footprints

Teach them to protect themselves:

• Keep accounts private
• Limit accepting friend requests
• Avoid sharing school uniform photos (usually unlikely in Fiji but for those raising Fijian teens away from home, this is critical)
• Turn off location
• Think before posting

These steps are especially important in the Pacific, where small communities mean information spreads quickly and can often go unchecked for a while, coconut wireless as we like to call it.

6. Explain grooming and online manipulation clearly

Not to scare them — but to empower them.
Teach the signs:

• Too-friendly compliments
• Asking for photos, especially inappropriate kinds
• Moving conversations to private chats
• Telling them to keep secrets

Reassure them: “If anything feels wrong, you can come to me — always.”

Resources like the much talked about book called Sex, Dating, Relationships & Everything in Between by various Fijian contributors like Miss Hibiscus 2024 Melania Tora, Ritchie Yagomate, Elizabeth Morrison, Sereana and Daniel Wood is a great read for both teens and parents alike when it comes to topics such as this.

7. Help them build respectful relationships online

Talk about consent, communication, and boundaries in a way that honours your family values and our Pacific culture. Teens need guidance in understanding healthy digital relationships and avoiding risky behaviour.

8. Monitor gently, not secretly

Supervision is important — but transparency builds trust.
Say something like: “I’m here to support you, not catch you out.”

9. Encourage balance — life outside the screen

Sports, music, youth groups, church, community events, hobbies — these give teens confidence, friendships and identity far stronger than social media validation.

10. Remind them that mistakes happen

Teens make errors — they always have, just now it’s digital and lives online forever. What matters is that they know home is a safe place to come for help, not blame.

A Maroroi Project Message for Parents of Teens

Your teenager may be growing up fast, but they still need you — your guidance, your calm, your wisdom. Ending the year strong means staying steady, choosing connection over control, and showing them you are a safe anchor in a noisy digital world.

Together, we can raise a generation of Fijian teens who are not just online — but safe, confident, and empowered online.

Until next time,

A