Concerns among Carnarvon’s Aboriginal community have been raised regarding the increase of violence stemming from comments on social media and online chat.

Telstra’s Diva Chat and Facebook were the two most popular misused platforms, Aboriginal Affairs Coordinating Committee chief operating officer Ross Tomasini said.

Mr Tomasini said Carnarvon’s Aboriginal Congress had invited Telstra corporate security manager Darren Kane to town to let the community know how the risks could be mitigated.

“What social media opens up is the idea of anonymity,” he said.

“What people do in a face to face situation is very different from what they do online.”

He said he had identified the issue in Geraldton when he was working as a Mid West Gascoyne police superintendent, but it was the congress that had noticed problems arising in Carnarvon.

Mr Kane addressed the congress last Wednesday because he had been told inappropriate use of Divas Chat and Facebook had caused disharmony leading to violence.

He said the internet was an invaluable resource, but people needed to understand the risks.

“As the technology becomes more accessible the more the risks grow,” he said.

“We are looking at a strategy to ensure the user takes more responsibility and care.”

Mr Kane said he wanted to elevate the issue onto the national stage and he had put it on the agenda for the Consultative Working Group for Cyber Safety report, to be tabled in Federal Parliament in March.