Radio Presenter and TV Host
Fiza O is a well-known radio presenter and TV host who has been in the industry for almost a decade. Her wacky sense of humour has struck a chord with fans, with over 64,000 followers on Instagram eager to catch a glimpse of her life through her posts. Fiza’s son sparked her involvement in this year's Safer Internet Day - she hopes to be a voice for thoughtfulness and kindness on the internet in the present, so that children will not be victims of online negativity and cyberbullying in the future.
Q: Do you feel that the internet has made a difference to your life?
I love to look at photos, especially photos of food! I’d also get updates from friends on their life developments, and even connect with friends I haven’t met since secondary school. I also love to discover inspiring images on Instagram and Pinterest to motivate me to become a better person. Sometimes when you are feeling down, you would come across a certain quote online that really relates to your life and help you put aside your negativity.
Q: What does the Safer Internet Day mean to you?
It means a lot to me because the internet is the future. If we don't encourage everyone to be thoughtful and kind, and to think before they post on social media, it would just be a place that propagates a lot of negativity. It would be a place that you would be afraid to let your children be exposed to. So it is important for us to create a safer and happier internet now for our future generations.
Q: What advice would you give your son once he is old enough to start using social media?
I would want him to know how to differentiate between reality and what happens online. I hope he understands that his self-worth is not measured by how many followers, likes and comments he has on social media. It is measured by who he is as a person, and that’s what really matters.
Q: How do you think you can help build a better internet?
I remember that when I was a victim of cyberbullying, there were people who stood up against the bullies and called them out with messages like, “hey, that comment was not nice.” Their actions restored my faith in humanity and made me feel loved and respected as a person. Now, I want to play my part by doing the same and bringing that same good feeling to others - to let victims of cyberbullying know that they are not alone.
Q: Any words for your peers reading this right now?
Basically, just be nice online! If you don't have any nice comments about others, keep them to yourself. If you make someone happy online today, someone else might make you happy tomorrow – it's the circle of life so let’s make someone smile today!
