Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how stories spread online and the lessons we can all take from them. Protecting dignity, respecting consent, and being mindful of our digital footprints are not “foreign values”—they’re human values. They matter no matter where we come from.

When I see situations where personal mistakes suddenly become public, I can’t help but think: these are lessons for all of us. It’s not just about Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, or the Solomon Islands—it’s global. The internet has no borders, and once something is out there, it can travel further and last longer than we ever imagined.

A recent reminder was the case of Solomon Islands artist Rosie Delmah. She was targeted with AI-generated explicit images—completely fake, yet deeply harmful. It’s painful to see someone’s talent and reputation attacked this way, and it makes me think about how easily technology can be abused.

Things We All Should Do

1. Stop keeping unsolicited images on your devices. Whether it’s your phone or laptop, those images are a privacy risk, a consent issue, and a time bomb if they ever leak.
2. Stop making porn videos. The moment you hit record, you lose control. Once it’s out there, it’s out there. These things get used against people all the time—blackmail, shame, reputational damage. It’s just not worth it.
3. Think before you share. Forwarding or reposting sensitive content only fuels the harm. Even if you didn’t create it, sharing makes you part of the problem.
4. Respect consent at every level. If someone didn’t agree to have their photo, video, or information shared, don’t do it. Consent should guide both our offline and online actions.
5. Educate yourself and others. Digital literacy is as important as any life skill today. Teach friends, family, and especially young people about the risks of digital footprints and online behavior.
6. Keep your devices and cloud storage secure. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and stay on top of updates. Sometimes leaks happen not because of what we do, but because we didn’t take the right precautions to protect our devices and the platforms where we store our files.

What makes this even more serious today is the rise of AI. With just a few clicks, someone can manipulate photos, create fake explicit content, or spread misinformation that looks real. We’ve already seen cases where AI-generated images were used to humiliate and exploit people who had nothing to do with them. The technology is powerful, but it is also dangerous when abused. That’s why we need to be extra cautious—not only with what we create and store, but also with what we choose to believe and share online.

For me, this isn’t just about avoiding scandal. It’s about choosing dignity, respect, and responsibility. Athletes, artists, public figures, and especially young people need to know that the internet never forgets. Our choices online reflect who we are, and they set the tone for the next generation.

Technology is powerful. Let’s use it to build each other up, not tear each other down.