AS Solomon Islands slowly advances into a digital technology, the death rate relating to cyberbullying increased from one to two in the Western Province.
The second victim of cyberbullying was the young man whose body was found dead at the Power House area in Gizo this week.
The young man hanged himself because he was bullied on social media.
With this recent death in Gizo, cyberbullying-related deaths in the Western Province now stands at two.
The first victim of cyberbullying in the province took away his own life in 2020 in Noro.
Meanwhile, the Kepios Report on the State of Digital Technology in Solomon Islands for 2023 reveals there are 264.4 thousand internet users in the country at the start of the year and this figure represents 36.1 percent of the national population.
Kepios is a Marketing Strategy Consultancy and its report on Solomon Islands was released by CEO, Simon Kemp.
The report states that Solomon Islands is slowly moving into the digital era and this will come with its own risks such as cyberbullying.
When some social media commentators heard of the suicidal death of the young man in Gizo due to cyberbullying, they suggested that the National Government should come up with Cyber Law to control online harassment.
Other commentators said internet users must respect other people’s lives and affairs by not interfering into their private space or environment.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
