Study focus on mobiles

 THE Office of the National Censorship Board is conducting a pilot research project on the use of mobile phones to access the internet by students in Port Moresby.

Staff members were at the Port Moresby National High School this week to interview students and provide awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of using social media. 

Research officer Cyril Kruak said the aim of the project was to collect data on the use of mobile phones by students with regards to accessing and distributing indecent information and materials on the 

internet.

Kruak said the questionnaires were developed to get a feedback from individual students. 

This is to get a better understanding or analysis of the problem so that a policy framework for an “internet filtering system” can be developed.

Director for strategic policy and coordination Ilikomau Ali said it was the first research project to be carried out by the Censorship Office. 

He said it was important that students provided their responses via the questionnaires which would be collected after a week. 

Principal adviser (mass media) Robroy Chiki outlined the disadvantages and advantages of social media, stressing that although the internet was easier and faster in retrieving information for research or study purposes, students tended to waste their study time by going into other social networks such as pornography.

Some students later expressed concern that their mates often spend most of their time on the internet which influenced their behaviour.

They claimed that those students used offensive language and behave indecently as well. 

A similar programme will be held on Friday at the Sogeri National High School.