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Catholic Church calls for online child protection
Fr John Joseph of the Catholic Diocese of Lae (Supplied)
The Catholic Church is calling for stronger protection of children and young people from harmful online content, saying parents, churches and schools must play a greater role in guiding them.
Fr John Joseph of the Catholic Diocese of Lae raised the concern during the National Censorship Policy Workshop in Lae, where discussions focused on protecting children and young people in the digital space.
Fr Joseph says children as young as seven and eight years old are already exposed to inappropriate material online.
He says the church places strong emphasis on the formation of children and young people to help them develop positive values and make responsible choices.
The church's approach focuses on religious education and guiding young people through Christian teachings.
Fr Joseph says the church believes in strengthening children's understanding of Gospel values as they grow up in a changing digital environment.
He says protecting children from harmful online content requires a shared effort involving parents, churches, schools, communities and government agencies.
The call comes as Papua New Guinea continues discussions on strengthening censorship measures and addressing the risks children face when accessing online platforms.