‘The practice of passing on responsibilities among government offices, like what
the office of Secretary Herbosa has done, really sucks, if not a sign of incompetence or disservice to Filipino taxpayers.’
FOR one, the onset of the internet and social media is a big leap for mankind. It has opened the gate for a long list of opportunities — economically, socially and psychologically to some extent.
Behind the evolution of the internet is a noticeable development that makes the daily grind convenient and efficient with a wide source of information made available for public consumption, for which the internet and electronic devices have become necessities.
Aside from work, the prevalence of the internet and electronic devices likewise proved helpful for students insofar as academic research to complete school-related requirements.
But if we are to believe in the data presented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), people may have abused the very purpose for which it was conceptualized — to connect people from all walks of life regardless of age, gender, race and economic status.
In its report, UNICEF claims roughly 35 percent of internet users are children. A growing body of evidence also indicates that children are accessing the internet at increasingly younger ages.
Interestingly, the rapidly expanding internet, which has significantly increased access to information, unfortunately, heightened the risk of online abuse and exploitation. Protecting children online has, thus, become an urgent concern as the internet exposes children to violence, abuse, exploitation, porn and gambling.
In the Philippines, UNICEF found a greater concern because more children are using the internet than adults. The same report claimed that 80 percent of the children who have access to the internet and social media are exposed to risks of being sexually abused or taken advantage of online.
More alarming is a portion of the 2015 National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children (but was only made public in 2016) conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children which tends to show that 50 percent of Filipino children who have access to the internet and social media using their gadgets have experienced online abuse.
Hence, the perils and possibilities of children growing up online are real. We’ve seen an increase in risks among Filipino children during the COVID-19 pandemic. With nowhere to go amid restrictions outside their residence, children spend more time online because this is where they learn, play, and communicate. Predators are fully aware that children are unguarded when online, thus seizing the moment to maximize social media platforms such as Facebook and TitTok to the fullest to wreak havoc on innocent children.
Days ago, I got an email from UNICEF in response to my previous column articles about the addictiveness of children on social media. According to their designated conduit, “UNICEF would rather focus on the harms that children encounter online and how we can address them rather than the hours they spend on it. For us, social media and smartphones have their benefits and the key is balance and safety in usage.”
They’d also prefer that I use the term “excessive use” rather than “addiction” as the latter may carry a stigma.
What I am expecting from UNICEF is its suggestions or recommendations to prevent further “digital harm” to children and adolescents. But UNICEF’s designated conduit was apologetic as their Child Protection Team was out in a workshop last week, and “what I can promise is we’ll definitely have it (UNICEF suggestions or recommendations)… when they get back.
“Glad we have the same thoughts on this and we really appreciate your help in pushing for online safety,” UNICEF’s designated conduit said, adding: “We need more voices like you who can give that significant boost.”
Yes, “addictive” or “addiction” is merely graphically describing the current state of the unabated use of smartphones and access to social media to capture the imagination of readers to promptly and positively act on the problems that the Philippines and other countries are facing. The correct term is therefore “excessive use of smartphones / mobile gadgets and access to social media.”
There are undoubtedly benefits to using smartphones and social media provided it’s regulated. Most of the parents and school principals that I had spoken to believed it would be easier for them if there’s a law regulating “excessive use of mobile phones and access to social media platforms” and placing “safeguards” — something incumbent upon the Philippine government.
However, I find it rather strange why the Office of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa doesn’t seem too eager to address “addiction” (or excessive use as the UNICEF wanted me to use in my column) when the fact remains that mental health falls well within its mandate.
In an email from the DOH, they asked me to refer my queries to the Department of Education, which already has policies on the limited use of electronic gadgets inside school premises.
The practice of passing on responsibilities among government offices, like what the office of Secretary Herbosa has done, really sucks, if not a sign of incompetence or disservice to Filipino taxpayers.
I was told that there are members of Congress such as Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Congresswomen Yeda Romuladez and Cheryl Deloso-Montalla as well as Congressmen Joey Salceda and Salvador Pleyto advocating for the online safety of Filipino children. Yours truly is trying to reach out to them, but unfortunately, no luck yet.
