Talks by Jason Titifanue
Pacific Journalism Review, 2017
This article explores the phenomenon of the use of ICT for climate change activism in the Pacific... more This article explores the phenomenon of the use of ICT for climate change activism in the Pacific. Climate change activism in the Pacific is characterised by the use of ICT tools such as social media. The article draws on semi-structured interviews and an analysis of social media sites to examine the use of social media in Pacific climate change campaigns. While other campaigns such as relating to West Papua have also been facilitated by social media, it has been generally NGO, citizen-led and varied in Pacific government support. In contrast, climate change campaigns in the Pacific are fully supported at the NGO, citizen, and state levels. Furthermore, while early Pacific ICT-based climate change campaigns used iconic images of Pacific Islanders leaving their homelands, more recent campaigns have leveraged social media to depict Pacific Islanders not as victims but as 'warriors'. This new imagery aims to empower Pacific Islanders and engender a regional Pacific identity that shows strength and solidarity on the Pacific's stance towards climate change.
Fiji’s 2014 elections provided a new dimension to political campaigning, which is an inevitable c... more Fiji’s 2014 elections provided a new dimension to political campaigning, which is an inevitable consequence of globalization and the proliferation of information technology. The use of Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as platforms for parties to campaign, has illustrated a new dimension for the electoral process in Fiji. The research conducted was primarily focused on documenting some key reasons as to why social media has provided this new dimension in Fiji and how was this strategized or if ever capitalized on by the political parties. Strategies used by the different parties were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed and observed. These findings provide crucial insight on this largely unexplored area of civic political engagement through social media, in Fiji.
Papers by Jason Titifanue
for article to be submitted to a special edition of Anthropological Forum
This In Brief seeks to discuss and assess the public social media responses from the two main soc... more This In Brief seeks to discuss and assess the public social media responses from the two main social media sites that were publicised by the Fijian government, for public feedback on the flag change proposal.
Social media has become a crucial feature of the Pacific islands in the twenty-first century, pro... more Social media has become a crucial feature of the Pacific islands in the twenty-first century, providing people with the means to demand greater accountability and transparency, and offering an alternative platform through which to engage in policy processes, dialogue and debate. Increasing social media access and use, has altered the existing media and communications landscape, with implications for mainstream media reporting, censorship and citizen voice. This paper explores this phenomenon through an examination of the digital activism practices of a group of women’s rights activists in Fiji. In doing so, this paper explores how social media is being used as an online platform for information dissemination and debate, as well as the implications this is having ‘offline’ as part of efforts to influence policymaking.
Issues Journal, 2021
This essay explores the emergence of the BFBF and how this online group made ‘bartering’ and othe... more This essay explores the emergence of the BFBF and how this online group made ‘bartering’ and other practices of exchange central to surviving Covid-19. We analyse the posts and discussions of BFBF participants in 2020. We are interested in the way moderators and participants position this contemporary way of conducting bartering as an alternative to market trade that has deep cultural roots in Fiji. Such forms of exchange have serious implications for the study of digital practices and relational systems of exchange in Fiji and beyond.
West Papua has one of the most repressive media environments in the world with a long history of ... more West Papua has one of the most repressive media environments in the world with a long history of media censorship and banning of foreign journalists, and only recently has this policy been somewhat relaxed. The tight media restrictions has led to the increasing use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter by West Papuan activists who broadcast the atrocities and human rights violations committed in West Papua. Driven by ICT developments, Pacific Islanders are increasingly “switching on” and leveraging social media as a political tool. Digital tools such as hashtags are being used to organize, share and disseminate stories and Free West Papuan messages. This has garnered support from all over the world and created “digital villages” of Free West Papuan activists. The Free West Papuan campaign has received an unprecedented level of global attention with prominent politicians such as PNG’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil, coming out in support of West Papua with reference to graphic i...
There have been stirrings on social media about plans by the Fijian Government to table the Rotum... more There have been stirrings on social media about plans by the Fijian Government to table the Rotuma Bill in Parliament in 2018. The Bill has been under consideration by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs (the Committee) since 2016 and is intended to replace the current Rotuma Act. The Rotuman Land Bill has also been under consideration by the Committee and both have been controversial and widely opposed by the Rotuman Community with 85 percent of the voting population of Rotumans on the island reportedly supporting recommendations for the withdrawal of the Bills. 5 This in brief summarises the changes proposed under the Rotuma Bill6 and provides a brief analysis of what these changes will mean for Rotuma and Rotumans. The proposed Bills will change Rotuma’s relationship with Fiji: from one where it has special autonomous administrative arrangements with the Fiji government, to one where it effectively becomes another island in Fiji and under the control of the Fijian government.
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2021
Digital media, opens a vast array of avenues for lay people to effectively engage with news, info... more Digital media, opens a vast array of avenues for lay people to effectively engage with news, information and debates about important science and health issues. However, they have also become a fertile ground for various stakeholders to spread misinformation and disinformation, stimulate uncivil discussions and engender ill-informed, dangerous public decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, antivaccination social media accounts are proliferating online, threatening to further escalate vaccine hesitancy. The pandemic signifies not only a global health crisis, it has also proven to be an infodemic characterised by many conspiracy theories. Prior research indicates that belief in health-related conspiracies can harm efforts to curtail the spread of a virus. This article presents and examines preliminary research findings on COVID-19 vaccine related misinformation being circulated on Fijian Facebook Forums.
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2020
Commentary: West Papua has one of the most repressive media landscapes in the world. Consequently... more Commentary: West Papua has one of the most repressive media landscapes in the world. Consequently, West Papuans have increasingly harnessed social media platforms to broadcast human rights violations committed in West Papua. Through this, Pacific Islanders around the region are increasingly leveraging social media as a political tool for showing solidarity and support for West Papuans. As a result, in recent years there has been a regional groundswell in support for West Papuan demands for self-determination, with prominent political figures such as Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea, and Gordon Darcy Lilo alluding to the awareness on West Papuan issues that have been raised through social media. This commentary explores how the rise of West Papua solidarity, is resulting in a heightened Pacific regional consciousness at the community level.
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2020
As a unique group of people, Rotumans make up less than two percent of Fiji’s population, and as ... more As a unique group of people, Rotumans make up less than two percent of Fiji’s population, and as a minority Indigenous ethnic group in Fiji, they have remained relatively hidden and silent in political affairs. Outmigration from the island has led to more than 80 percent of Rotumans residing outside of Rotuma. In recent times, the Rotuman diaspora has heavily relied on the use of ICTs and new media technologies as crucial tools for the reinvigoration of Rotuma’s culture. This in itself poses an intriguing paradox as internet connectivity on Rotuma is quite limited. However, social media platforms have been increasingly used by Rotumans outside of Rotuma, and have enabled increased connectivity and greater dissemination of information among the Rotuman diaspora. Recently, the primary purpose of such social media groups has evolved from merely being a tool for rekindling familial ties, to being a platform for political discourse on Rotuman issues. In essence, despite the scattered nat...
Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 2018
Social media has become a crucial feature of the Pacific islands in the 21st century, providing p... more Social media has become a crucial feature of the Pacific islands in the 21st century, providing people with the means to demand greater accountability and transparency and offering an alternative platform through which to engage in policy processes, dialogue, and debate. Increasing social media access and use has altered the existing media and communications landscape, with implications for mainstream media reporting, censorship, and citizen voice. This paper explores this phenomenon through an examination of the digital activism practices of a group of women's rights activists in Fiji. In doing so, this paper explores how social media is being used as an online platform for information dissemination and debate, as well as the implications this is having "offline" as part of efforts to influence policymaking.
The Contemporary Pacific, 2018
Anthropological Forum, 2019
International practices of disaster preparedness presume human agency, particularly at the househ... more International practices of disaster preparedness presume human agency, particularly at the household level, as an important preemptive response to anticipated natural hazards. Our analysis of Fijian responses to Tropical Cyclone Winston indicates that preparedness is also regarded as important by cyclone survivors but has a moral dimension that can be used to assign blame to underprepared members of the community. However, Fijian villagers' experiences of terror and awe during Tropical Cyclone Winston also make them aware of the limits of human agency, prompting them to reflect on God's role in the cyclone and the need for collective repentance and renewed Christian commitment. The effectiveness of disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation efforts can only be enhanced by a better understanding of the values of affected communities, including religious and spiritual values. We seek to contribute to this knowledge by showing how disaster preparedness both converges with and diverges from Fijian Christian practices.
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2018
This article presents an analysis of how social media was used during Tropical Cyclone Winston, t... more This article presents an analysis of how social media was used during Tropical Cyclone Winston, the strongest recorded tropical storm that left a wake of destruction and devastation in Fiji during February 2016. Social media is increasingly being used in crises and disasters as an alternative form of communication. Social media use in crisis communication varies according to the context, the disaster and the maturity of social media use. Fiji’s experience during TC Winston contributes to the growing literature as it shows how social media was used during each stage of a disaster in a developing country. The article finds that before the cyclone, people used social media to share information about the cyclone and to be informed about the cyclone. During the cyclone, individuals used social media to share their experiences with some citizens capturing the cyclone as it happened and even one citizen live-tweeted her ordeal during the cyclone. Finally, following the cyclone, the hashtag...
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2018
In the Pacific, there have been startling news releases of governments making attempts at censori... more In the Pacific, there have been startling news releases of governments making attempts at censoring the internet, a move seen to point towards silencing dissenting views on popular online forums. The conflicting trends between the new political forum ushered in by the new media on the one hand, and the restrictive mode of state censorship on the other hand, pose serious challenges to the broader framework of rights and freedom of expressions. The aim of this article is to examine the regulatory approaches being developed and/or proposed in response to the emergence of new media in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). This article reviews two ways in which Pacific island governments are attempting to regulate the internet: firstly through the development of legislation to prosecute cybercriminals, and secondly through the banning of certain internet sites, most notably Facebook. Despite the disparities in internet penetration levels, the article reveals that nearly all countries in the P...
Media International Australia, 2018
The island of Rotuma in Fiji poses a paradox. Indigenous Fijians make up more than 60% of Fiji’s ... more The island of Rotuma in Fiji poses a paradox. Indigenous Fijians make up more than 60% of Fiji’s population. However, as a unique ethnic group, Rotumans are a demographic minority, with their language listed on the UNESCO list of endangered languages. This is caused by extensive outmigration, with more than 80% of Rotumans residing outside of Rotuma. Recently, Rotuman migrants have heavily relied on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and new media, as tools for reinvigorating culture, rekindling familial ties and being a platform for political discourse on Rotuman issues. Facebook has been increasingly employed by Rotumans to inform and educate themselves and their networks on the implications of two bills introduced in Fiji’s Parliament in 2015, which impact Rotuma in terms of its land and customs. This article examines how Rotumans have innovatively used social media to reinvigorate culture and how this has evolved to take on an increasingly political dimension.
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Talks by Jason Titifanue
Papers by Jason Titifanue
Commentary on these examples has focussed on the evolution of social media as a comparatively democratic space for communication, information and dissent, in the wake of continued restrictions on freedom of expression and a prevailing culture of self-censorship within the nation’s mainstream media institutions.
However, there has been little interrogation of the everyday practices of social media use by activists in Fiji, and the implications of this both online and offline.
Recent research by the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP), in partnership with researchers at the University of the South Pacific, seeks to respond to this gap. It explores how young feminists and women’s rights activists in Fiji are using digital technologies such as social media as part of their advocacy and activist practice.
In-depth focus groups conducted with 22 young women’s rights activists in Fiji over the course of 2016 revealed the myriad ways in which social media shapes their experiences as feminists and activists.