The digital world is becoming increasingly important in various aspects of children's lives. It serves as a valuable tool in providing education and entertainment, government services, business support, and even upholding children's rights. It also contributes to well-being, social relationships, and more.
However, as more people rely on digital technologies, there are also a wide range of threats to the safety and well-being of users. During a series of United Nations Child Rights consultations, children expressed their desire for the digital environment to support, promote, and protect them when they engage online.
The Philippine media plays a crucial role in the joint efforts of various stakeholders to prevent and combat Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), prevent the creation and spread of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), and address other forms of abuse and exploitation of children in the digital realm. Through the #WebSafeandWise Campaign, ChildFund and PMFI have been working with the media to promote reporting on child online safety issues, including responsible and sensitive coverage of online abuse and exploitation.
Media Stories for a Safer Digital World for Children
On November 23, 2023, over twenty journalists, media professionals, and media educators from various organizations in Metro Manila attended a full-day workshop at the Novotel Manila Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. The workshop, titled #WebSafeandWise Media Training: Responsible Stories on the Digital World for Children, aimed to provide the media attendees with additional information on the digital environment of Filipino children and ways to report on these issues responsibly and ethically.
The training aimed to utilize the media's power for storytelling to enhance the public's comprehension of online safety and prompt relevant agencies, particularly technology companies with online platforms used by children, to take necessary action.
Here are some workshop highlights:
Ralph Cyrus Reputas is a 17-year-old student and child advocate who is actively involved in promoting online safety for children in his community. He is a member of Gems Heart Outreach Development, Inc., an NGO that supports and empowers children, families, and communities through sustainable projects and services. His presentation presented the perspective of youth in today's digital world. He talked about how children can benefit from online and digital media, as well as the potential risks they may encounter, such as cyberbullying, discrimination, misinformation, and online violence. Ralph also discussed the measures he takes to address these issues, including providing online safety training to children and conducting advocacy campaigns.
Hanna Morillo, the Executive Director of MLAC Institute for Psychosocial Services, discussed the importance of nurturing a child's digital well-being. She offered insights from both psychological and academic standpoints on the present state of children's digital health. This included examining their use of digital technology in relation to brain development, discussing the potential advantages and drawbacks of digital usage, and emphasizing the role of parenting in fostering a child's digital well-being.
In an open forum, Attorney Cristina Sevilla, a seasoned Human Rights Lawyer who discussed a history of OSAEC in Philippine legislation. She gave updates on the terminology used, such as discontinuing the use of the term "child pornography" in OSAEC cases. In addition, she discussed specific provisions in the recently passed Anti-OSAEC Act. She shared challenges suggested solutions like community involvement and positive parenting measures. She is joined by Mr. Alberto Salvador, Jr. who discussed the projects, mandates, and campaigns led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) regarding OSAEC and child online safety.
Allan Nuñez from ChildFund Philippines discussed the media guidelines for ethically reporting on OSAEC, which were developed in collaboration with nine media outlets. The guidelines include recommended terminology, protocols for handling subjects, conducting interviews, and producing the story.
Neil Jayson Servallos, a reporter for PhilStar, shared his experiences reporting a four-part online series on OSAEC as a media fellow of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).
Atom Araullo, a broadcast journalist at GMA Network, discussed his experiences producing the award-winning documentary "Mata sa Dilim" and the online feature "A Love Remains." These works shed light on online child sexual abuse and exploitation in various areas of the Philippines. He also shared insights on the factors influencing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children based on his observations while working on these stories, and highlighted the necessity of empowering youth for their online safety.
The participants engaged in small group discussions and shared with the plenary their experiences covering similar issues, thoughts on implementing OSAEC guidelines in their workplaces, and insights into web safety issues for and with children.
The GenZ Selfie style class photo
Read part 2 on the #WebSafeandWise Media Fellowship and view works on the online safety for and with Filipino children.
