THEY are dubbed the “digital natives.”

Indeed, for the youth of today, the Internet has become an integral part of their lives.

According to Delia Hernandez, a professor at Ateneo de Manila University, people now communicate through texting, blogging, collaborative authorship, online messaging and content sharing either photos or videos or both.

In her presentation during a recent forum on social media and child abuse, she said the Internet has become an indispensable element in the lives of everyone, including children, given the widespread availability of Internet access in homes, schools and public places.

“The Internet has become a powerful socialization agent.… It is a wonderful resource for children today. It can be used to research school reports, to communicate with other, play interactive games and literally access the world,” she said, citing the findings of an oft-quoted 1989 study by Huston, Watkins and Kunkel.

But she also gave this warning: “Knowingly or unknowingly, there are some dangers to Internet use. Internet can be a source for pornographic materials. The images and words in the Internet can be hateful or violent in nature. It encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal, age-inappropriate or biased.”

Among the dangers that have been identified, she said, are online enticement to engage in sexual activities, bullying and even child prostitution.

 

Tool for communication

INTERNET use has consistently been growing among Filipinos. According to the latest survey of research firm Synovate Inc., the reach of the Internet has climbed to 46 percent from 32 percent in its previous survey.

Synovate also noted that Internet use has been growing across all socioeconomic classes, even among those belonging to Class E, which rose to 20 percent.

“Internet as a medium has been growing across all regions, from Greater Manila Area to Mindanao and all age groups,” Carole Sarthou, managing director of Synovate in the Philippines, said in September, when the company released the survey.

This growth suggests how dependent people, especially the youth, have become on the Internet, not just as a source of information but also as a tool for communication.

From e-mail to chatting, many people use the Internet to socialize with friends through sites such as Facebook, or even talk with families who are abroad through Skype.

Unfortunately, these convenient communication platforms are also open for use by criminals like sex offenders to find potential victims.

Last month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Para sa mga Bata Citizens’ Network (PSMB) and National Council for Children’s Television held  a forum to tackle the  importance and relevance of social-media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as an advocacy tool against all forms of child abuse to cyberspace.

It was participated in by around 200 active social-media users to highlight the powerful role of citizens in advocating for and educating the public in protecting and caring for children both online and offline. Social-media users from all walks of life, from mothers and teachers to bloggers and celebrities, interacted with child-rights advocates from the government and the private sector on critical issues on children, and how they can make a difference.

The DSWD, CWC and many child advocates are already using social media to advocate and promote the rights and welfare of children. These networks may be used to exchange views and opinions, as well as a venue to report cases of child abuse, such as cyber bullying and cyber pornography.

“I encourage everyone to remain vigilant in reporting cases of these types of child abuse to the authorities,” Social Welfare Secretary and CWC chairman Corazon Juliano-Soliman told the participants.

CWC Executive Director Brenda Vigo also said the government and the private sector must work together to ensure that no Filipino child is abused—whether in online communities or in their barangays.

“While many syndicates still use the old method of face-to-face recruitment of innocent children for their illegal business, some have tapped the limitless potentials of the Internet to further expand their business,” Vigo said.

“Child abuse is not only happening in real space, but also on the Internet. It has become pervasive on the Internet, especially child pornography. They also recruit their victims for child trafficking through the Internet.… This is precisely why we need to inform the citizens, especially parents, that child abuse is happening on the Internet without being detected,” she said.

 

Shaping behavior

THE dangers need not be that extreme.

The Internet also plays an important part in “shaping the behavior of young people, especially on how they respond to their environment and how they socialize and relate to other people.”

Given the amount of content available on the Internet, it is not difficult for children to stumble upon, for instance, videos that portray violent behavior, or pornographic materials and sexually explicit content. Many believe that children exposed to such inappropriate content may develop in them “tendencies toward accepting and engaging” in similar activities.

The CWC, which is celebrating its 37th anniversary this month, shared a set of “10 Internet Rules 4 Kids”—practical and plain advice from the United Nations Children’s Fund. It is also handing out a dossier on “General Internet Safety Tips for Families” published by Childnet International, Commonsense Media, ConnectSafely and TrendMicro.

For its part, PSMB President Ranch Macalalad encouraged parents to be very vigilant and active in joining child-advocacy groups like the PSMB.

“As parents, they are the first ones who will make sure that their children are well protected and safe against all forms of abuse on the Internet,” he said.

Some warning signs to look out for, according to Hernandez, the Ateneo professor, include children spending long hours online, phone calls from people they don’t know, withdrawal from family life and a reluctance to discuss their online activities.

 

Basic rules for children

HERNANDEZ advised parents to inculcate the following to their children:

• Never trade personal photographs in the mail or scanned photographs over the Internet.

• Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location. Use only a screen name.

• Never agree to meet anyone from the chat room in person.

• Never respond to a threatening e-mail or message.

• Always tell your parents about any communication or conversation that was scary.

• If your child has a new “friend,” insist on being “introduced” online to that friend.

Parents are also urged to take responsibility for their child’s Internet use.

“Spend time with our children when they are online,” she said. “Explore the wide range of information that is available and discuss with our children which topics we consider off limits. Keep lines of communication open so we can talk to our children about Internet use.”

It is also important to monitor how much time children spend online as excessive use may indicate a problem.

“Do not use the Internet as an electronic babysitter,” she said. “Make computer use a family activity.”