HOW DO WE PROTECT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET?

HOW DO WE PROTECT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET?

If there is one danger quietly creeping into every Filipino household today, it is not dengue, not pollution, not even crime on the streets—it is the unregulated, unfiltered, and often invisible world of the internet. And the ones most vulnerable are our youngest, those whose innocence is no match for algorithms engineered to capture their attention, harvest their data, and sometimes expose them to predators lurking behind screens.

We tell parents to monitor their children, to set rules, to use parental controls. But is that enough? I have long believed that when it comes to children, society cannot rely solely on the vigilance of the family. We need structural safeguards—legal, technological, and community-based.

Yes, we already have the Data Privacy Act. But let us be honest: it is a general law designed for everyone. Children, however, are not “everyone.” They require stronger, sharper protection. Without a separate child-focused privacy law, children risk being treated as mere footnotes in a complex regulatory framework. And footnotes are easy to overlook.

In the United States, they amended COPPA—the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act—to extend coverage from children under 13 to teens up to 16. If the U.S., with its sophisticated tech ecosystem, felt compelled to strengthen protection, how much more should we? Should we not consider extending Philippine protections up to age 18, the legal age of majority?

More importantly, why don’t we create a dedicated division within the National Privacy Commission solely focused on children’s data? This is long overdue. Children cannot defend themselves in digital spaces; someone must stand guard for them.

But while lawmakers debate, what can families do today?

First, set clear rules—not as authoritarian commands but as family agreements. Children must know what apps they can use, what information they can share, and who they are allowed to interact with. These conversations must start early.

Second, teach privacy. A child who knows never to reveal their home address, school, or family details online is already safer than most adults.

Third, encourage openness. Too many children suffer in silence from cyberbullying, grooming attempts, or exposure to inappropriate content because they fear being punished or blamed. Parents must be approachable, not intimidating.

Fourth, use parental controls. There is no shame in using filters, time-limit tools, and monitoring apps. These tools exist for a reason.

Fifth, model responsible digital behavior. If adults themselves are spreading fake news, oversharing personal information, or glued to screens during family meals, what example are we setting?

At the barangay level, we could easily organize digital literacy workshops—short, simple sessions teaching parents and children the basics of online safety. Imagine if each barangay had a “Digital Safety Day” just as we have fire drills and disaster-preparedness activities. Why not treat digital harm with the same seriousness as earthquakes and floods?

We often forget that the dangers online are not purely technical—they are social. Predators exploit children’s trust. Scammers manipulate curiosity. Algorithms amplify harmful content. And because much of it happens silently, inside bedrooms and behind closed doors, we underestimate the threat.

If we truly care about our children—and we Filipinos always claim that we do—then we must update our laws, strengthen enforcement, and build community-based systems that empower families. We cannot outsource child protection to Big Tech companies whose business models depend on data extraction.

The question is simple: How do we protect young children from the dangers of the internet?

The answer is more complex: with laws, with education, with community involvement—and above all, with the collective will to treat children’s digital safety as a national priority, not a private problem.

If we fail to protect them now, the cost will not be measured in pesos or gigabytes, but in the erosion of childhood itself.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09-15-2026