DepEd, Meta urge parents to talk to their kids on social media use
Young people use social media apps on their mobile phones and computers as they attend the forum, Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive: Case Study of Percy Lapid Mabasa, at the CMC Auditorium Plaridel Hall UP Diliman Quezon City on October 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file MANILA — The Department of Education and Facebook parent firm Meta advocate for children’s safety online as they also urge parents to always communicate with their children when it comes to using social media.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said there is a rising concern on kids being negatively influenced by certain groups online. These groups, he said, claim to be a fraternity or friends, but will entice children to do unlawful acts.
“Yung initiation mo para makapasok ka sa fraternity kailangan magnakaw ka sa 711 o kaya mangbatok ka ng matanda, o kaya sipain mo ang katabi mo. Ganun ka walang kwenta ang mga grupo na yun,” Angara said at a forum hosted by Meta.
He urged parents to constantly talk to their children about using social media.
Angara said parents sometimes are too strict when it comes to their children outside their homes, but are less strict on their kids’ online activities.
“Sana kayo sa inyong mga tahanan, bantayan niyo inyong mga anak. Kung ano ingat niyo sa pagtawid ng kalsada, kung anong ingat sa loob ng mall, sa paglabas ng bahay, ganun din dapat ang ingat natin pagdating sa social media ng inyong mga anak,” he told parents at the forum.
Meta is hosting the “Digital Dialogue in Real Life: Safety starts with conversation,” a forum and a 5-day exhibit at Glorietta in Makati, featuring interactive booths and practical digital safety resources to help parents and students.
It also guides them on certain questions or topics on social media usage.
“How much time do you spend online? Yun yung isang bagay na pwede pag-isipan. Pangalawa, safe ba tayo sa information na sina-share natin sa security features na meron? Tinitingnan din natin how people interact online,” Meta Head of Public Policy for the Philippines Gio Tingson said.
Tingson added that as a platform, they are also enforcing child safety policies such as having the Teen Accounts for Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads for teens aged 16 years old and below.
“Masisigurado na, una, yung content na makikita ng mga kabataan ay appropriate sa age nila. Pangalawa, yung contact. Sino yung kausap ng mga batang ito? Dapat kilala ng mga magulang sino kausap nila. Pangatlo, meron bang parental supervision na nagaganap?” he added.
The event and exhibit are also supported by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, National Youth Commission, Stairway Foundation, among many others. It is free for the public and will end on October 30.