As digital connectivity becomes a key enabler of their continued learning in the new normal, PLDT and the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) team up to empower Filipino teens to be responsible users of social media.
Providing guidance to teachers in the audience in a recent webinar attended by over 1,400 high school students from public schools across the Philippines, guest panelist Dr. Lani H. Cervantes, OIC, Schools Division Superintendent, Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Ormoc City, remarked: “Social media platforms such as FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, among others, must be used with utmost care and caution to make them more relevant to the curriculum. It requires a balanced decision whether or not to post or upload something. It requires a broad perspective to regulate what we share or promote and what we comment on or give feedback.
She adds, “If the target is to help our learners, we cannot just provide them with inconsistencies or inaccuracies. As much as possible, we need to provide a wholesome virtual platform with greater opportunities in education. Let us never forget that our learners are the heart of the curriculum. The standards should begin within us.”
On the same panel, PLDT First Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Cathy L. Yap-Yang said teens can become part of the solution to the problem of social media being weaponized by some sectors in the online community. With their varied points of view, beliefs, and principles, the youth should take the opportunity to be heard.
On personal brand, she advised the students: “Your personal brand is how you promote yourself. It is the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to see you. It is the telling of your story, and how it reflects your conduct, behavior, spoken and unspoken words and attitudes.”
To become successful in establishing a personal brand, proper management of social media accounts is very important. Resource speaker Alvin Sosmena, Division Information Technology Officer, Schools Division Office, Ormoc City shared several principles to remember.
Think about your privacy, but remember, ‘private’ settings don’t prevent content from being downloaded.
Students should also consider how their social media use can appear to others. What will your strategy be? You may want to consider what you want to achieve, and which tools would be best for the job. In line with pricacy, it is also best to leep your personal and professional identities separate. Communicate
According to Yang, “Social media is not a purely negative or positive force. It all depends on how you use it. If you want it to hold a positive, or at least a neutral place in your life, it’s on you to take measures to use social media responsibly.”
