Children and young people call on parents, educators, governments, and internet technology companies to ensure that social media and the internet are safe for their use, either in learning or for leisure, according to a news release from the ChildFund Philippines.
The call was made during an internet discussion organized by ChildFund Philippines during its celebration of WEB Safe and Wise: Safer Internet Day 2025 on February 11.
There, youth representatives from various organizations expressed their insights on child online safety and children’s rights in the digital world.
The strongest messages from the youth demanded that parents understand the internet and how children use them, that governments provide strong child protection policies and that tech companies prioritize responsibility over profit.
“Parents must understand that the internet is not the enemy, but a platform for children to learn from and to navigate,” said Ralph, a youth advocate of ChildFund Philippines.
“We ask parents to do their best to understand what children are exposed to on social media so that they can keep us safe from things that are harmful and that makes us uncomfortable,” he said.
Lean, a youth champion, echoed the same challenge to parents whose children may already be experiencing cyberbullying and do not know how to handle it.
“Cyberbullying is committed by persons who also experience bullying, so it is important that parents must know the signs that their children are going through this ordeal,” she said. “If parents become aware, they can immediately take action. It is a first step to stop cyberbullying.”
The appeal for understanding and guidance from parents, guardians, and educators resonated among the youth representatives, who also called for the immediate need to build trust and communication between children and adults to better prevent digital dangers.
Nidhi, another youth ambassador, said, “Tech companies must take responsibility in ensuring that social media platforms protect children users; that they build a digital space that puts children’s rights first.”
The youth ambassador said, “Tech companies collect, analyze and monetize children’s private data for their content and advertising needs, and entice children to be engaged on the internet for as long as possible but for their profit, paying no attention to the protection of their privacy, autonomy and development.”
Nidhi appealed for “the need for stronger protection policies especially in demanding civil society, policy makers, international organizations and tech companies to build a digital world where children learn and interact without fear of being exploited of their privacy violated.”
Jomer, 16, asked his peers to speak up or call the attention of parents and teachers when they feel bullied, harassed or violated on the internet. “We need to report so we can take action and put perpetrators in their place but we also need to be informed, empowered and be digitally literate,” he said.
He called for platforms and websites that are helpful, accessible and non-judgmental for children reporting online abuse. “It is also better to ask and consult children about their ideas of reporting mechanisms are safe to use.”
For Pia, a youth advocate from ChildFund Japan Philippine Branch, it is helpful to “be positive so that it doesn’t come back to you negatively,” an explanation on the importance of “digital kindness” when engaging in social media.
“It’s better to interact nicely because we don’t know people’s intentions on screen,” she said, adding that it is also safe for children to adopt online their parents’ teaching not to talk to strangers.
Allan Nuñez, advocacy and child protection specialist of ChildFund Philippines, said importance children must participate in the discussion of online safety.
“The children and youth have so much power in their hands, because as digital natives, this is their world,” said Nuñez.
“We need to encourage, guide, and support them in taking the lead as they uphold their rights in the digital world, for us to have a safer and better online environment free from all forms of online abuse, exploitation, and violence,” he said.
One in every two Filipino children aged 12 to 17 fell victim to online sexual abuse and exploitation in 2021, according to UNICEF. More than half of children used the internet without supervision, and put boys at equal risk with girls to digital dangers.
The landmark passage of Republic Act 11930 Anti Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children made the Philippines one of the first in East Asia and the Pacific region to address the growing concern.
WEB Safe and Wise: Safer Internet Day 2025 was led by ChildFund Philippines in partnership with ChildFund Japan Philippine branch, Educo Philippines, ECPAT Philippines, 5Rights Foundation, and Probe Media Foundation. The campaign is part of ChildFund Alliance’s global effort to uphold the rights of children to be protected from all forms of violence, expanding into the area of online spaces.
ChildFund Philippines is a child-focused NGO serving children, youth, and their families in the Philippines since the 1970s. Its primary advocacy is on promoting children’s and youths’ rights and preventing child labor and online sexual exploitation.
A recent work with the Philippine government, NGO partners, private sectors, the media, and child protection champions resulted in the #ShutdownOSEC campaign, introducing OSEC-targeted congressional bills and the increased engagement of OSEC media coverage.
(The last names of the youth are not mentioned here to protect their privacy.)
