Online chatting, video or text based, is one online activity that parents should pay attention to. Find out why with the article written below with the expert opinion of this writer.

I wrote about the  SOPA/PIPA in my other blog, and it attracted some attention of media because of it’s possible effects to online biz in the Philippines. But can SOPA/PIPA affect online safety and wellness?

The  SOPA/PIPA is value neutral.

It’s objective appears to be value positive because  it aims to protect US economy.  Primarily being pushed by creative artists, movie and music producers, authors and publishers whose creative works are stolen online. And  because  the internet has no boundaries, piracy has become easier and US laws cannot run after them.

But the proposed action plan:

• to run after  legit biz in the US, like Google and Facebook, for the copyright violation of its users, and
• to block access of US online community to sites outside US shores are perceived to becopyright violators or tolerant to such.

was controversial, thus, became value negative because of the possible curtailment of the freedom of expression.

Though the objective indirectly helps online users become responsible netizens consistent with our cyber wellness advocacy, but the proposed courses of action needs to be revisited.

I wonder what is the present state of these  issues here in the Philippines?

Cyber bullying remains under reported, but inquiry about cyber bullying: relevant stats, victims, school policy and proactive approach serves as the highest source of traffic referred by search engines. Interestingly, 90% of these inquiries are from the Philippines.

What do you think? Do we have a school bullying outbreak?

Via MAT@USC: Masters in Teaching

Related  ”cyber bullying” articles:

• 11/1/11 - Cyber Bullying Is For Real
• 10/22/11- Cyber Bullying Is Now Getting The Rightful Attention It Deserves
• 8/5/11-  The difference between Cyber Stalking, Cyber Harassment and Cyber Bullying
• 7/28/11-  Attend the anti Cyber Bullying Boot Camp- Philippines
• 7/25/11-  The Proactive  Approach to Prevent Cyber Bullying
• 7/17/11 - Cyber Bullying: An Unrecognized Threat
• 4/17/11- What to do if you are being trolled? [haters on the web]
• 4/3/11 - Anti Cyber bullying tools of Facebook
• 3/10/11 - Anti Cyber bullying Program of  Reedley International School [Quezon City , Philippines]
• GMA 7 embraced our advocacy and launched   “think before you click” campaign

On January 14, 2012, I gave a talk to student leaders of EDSOR Consortium member schools, which include, La Salle Greenhills, Immaculate Conception Academy, St. Pedro Poveda College and Xavier School. My assigned topic was “cyber wellness”.

For the last 12 years, EDSOR is conducting Peace Camp, a yearly leadership training program for student leaders of member schools. Each member school got to host the annual event every four years. This year’s theme was  “Kabataan: Kakabakaba o Kakasa Ka Ba?” 

The conference aims to make the participants aware of and believe in their strengths as youth leaders.  It further aims to make them aware of, and take action on, the issues confronting Filipino youth today.  On the first day of the conference, the students will be looking more into themselves as student leaders –their strengths and weaknesses, their motivations and aspirations.  On the second day, the students will take a closer look at present problems affecting the youth in the Philippines.

Thus, the topic I presented is timely because more than ever,

• cases of cyber bullying is growing but remain under reported
• a notable increase of crime emanating from use of internet and social media
• more and more kids have access to online content and are exposed to social web at an early age
• our kids  are opinionated, more vocal and affront, enjoying the freedom we have in our country
• most of the time, parents are not involve in the online activity of their kids
• there is a real danger from online predators
• kids need to understand responsible and safety use of social web

Aside from giving an overview of the social media landscape, we looked at certain local and international cases of cyber bullying and other related abuses. Discussed how one’s online behavior can put them at risk, and how they can protect themselves and use online tools that can help them navigate the web safely. I also met Father Stephen Cuyos, one of the speakers of the said conference, and fellow advocate of online safety.

I am happy that schools are beginning to recognize the need for cyber wellness. Because in the absence of appropriate cyber laws, and schools that do not have a procedure on how to deal with cyber bullying, and parents that are disconnected with kids online activities, the best protection we can give our kids is to “educate them”

In one of the biggest gathering of social workers in the Philippines advocating for kids safety, Child Protection Network’s 2nd Manila Conference ‘Ako Para Sa Bata’, I was asked to give a talk about cyber wellness and give practical advice on digital parenting. With more and more kids having access to internet, and pending laws that can safeguard kids and internet users in general, education is our best defense. This video explains why we need to include cyber safety in child protection advocacy:

Since we launched the advocacy on June 2010, we are happy that the need for cyber safety has gained recognition from different sectors.

• The Philippine National Police has launched “Project Angel Net“
• GMA 7 launched “Think Before You Click“
• Manila Local Government launched a cyber safety forum at District 1
• Councilor Alfred Vargas of QC government is collaborating with us for a proactive and relevant  local ordinance for internet cafe
• The Provincial Government of  Pangasinan held an ICT Congress where cyber wellness is one of it’s feature talks
• More upscale schools have invited us to share our advocacy for kids.
• More TV and Radio programs have invited us to discuss cyber wellness
• Yahoo! partnered w/ us for yahoo safely and purple hunt family edition.

Our hope for 2012 is for Schools, the Dept. of  Education, Parents and LGUs to take proactive steps to address cyber bullying.

Here are a few of the pics during the conference:

Cyber bullying in the Philippines is a growing threat. “Growing”, because internet penetration rate is increasing and access is becoming easy. A “threat” because as of this writing, we have no law that will address that, and majority of schools don’t seem to have a concrete program yet.

Cyber bullying remains under reported in the Philippines since no parents and school would like to be the face of a cyber bully victim here, and no school would like it’s image to be tarnished.

It’s a welcome move that a victim would like to share her story of cyber bullying. This happened when she was still in High School, but she’s a junior college student as of this taping.

In a nutshell, cyber bullying, cyber harassment, and cyber stalking originated from the same behavior whose intention is to use internet . social media, and mobile communication to harass, attack and strip the victim of self worth.  The difference lies on the “age” of the parties involved. Bullying are for minors, if an adult is involved, it falls under harassment. Stalking involves offline activities.

Related  ”cyber bullying” articles:

• 1/21/12 – School Bullying Outbreak in PH?
• 11/1/11 - Cyber Bullying Is For Real
• 10/22/11- Cyber Bullying Is Now Getting The Rightful Attention It Deserves
• 8/5/11-  The difference between Cyber Stalking, Cyber Harassment and Cyber Bullying
• 7/28/11-  Attend the anti Cyber Bullying Boot Camp- Philippines
• 7/25/11-  The Proactive  Approach to Prevent Cyber Bullying
• 7/17/11 - Cyber Bullying: An Unrecognized Threat
• 4/17/11- What to do if you are being trolled? [haters on the web]
• 4/3/11 - Anti Cyber bullying tools of Facebook
• 3/10/11 - Anti Cyber bullying Program of  Reedley International School [Quezon City , Philippines]
• GMA 7 embraced our advocacy and launched   “think before you click” campaign

The province of Pangasinan, because of  it’s leader, Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. and his Social Media Team, is recognized as one of the cities in the Philippines who is adopting well with web 2.0. Proof to that is the holding of ”Pangasinan Digital Life ICT Congress”  at the  Training and Development Center, on November 21-26, 2011.

WSPH Executive Director and Pioneer Cyber Wellness Advocate Sonnie Santos, was invited and will give a talk about Cyber wellness  on November 21, 2011. He will also join Col. Gilbert Sosa in a panel discussion in the  afternoon.

Pangasinan welcomes the future by embracing web 2.0 with responsible use and cyber safety.

The Child Protection Network’s will hold the 2nd Manila Conference with the theme “Creating Safe and Caring Environments for Children” on December 5-6, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center.

Topics include Safety at HOME; PUBLIC PLACES; on the ROAD and CYBERSPACE.

We are thankful for the invitation to guest on the  program of Kata Inocencio and Alex Tinsay, dubbed “Sa Totoo Lang”.

The discussion revolved around online threats and how we can address it. It’s good that cyber risks are getting enough media attention so that our citizens can take proactive and protective measures.

I will be back on December to discuss a training program for the marketplace, WAVE [Work Attitude, Values, Ethics].

Related read:

• 12/8/11- Cyber Bullying Victim in the Philippines Speaks
• 10/22/11- Cyber Bullying Is Now Getting The Rightful Attention It Deserves
• 8/5/11-  The difference between Cyber Stalking, Cyber Harassment and Cyber Bullying
• 7/28/11-  Attend the anti Cyber Bullying Boot Camp- Philippines
• 7/25/11-  The Proactive  Approach to Prevent Cyber Bullying
• 7/17/11 - Cyber Bullying: An Unrecognized Threat
• 4/17/11- What to do if you are being trolled? [haters on the web]
• 4/3/11 - Anti Cyber bullying tools of Facebook
• 3/10/11 - Anti Cyber bullying Program of  Reedley International School [Quezon City , Philippines]
• GMA 7 embraced our advocacy and launched   “think before you click” campaign

Online threats are  for real.

After my talk in a well known University, I was informed that 3 freshmen college students dropped because they were raped after an EB with strangers they met in a socia networking site. These did not reach media attention because the individuals and families concern would like to keep this matter private.

In cases of cyber bullying, no school or family would like to become the face of cyber bullying in the Philippines, thus, cases remain unreported.

I shared with Smart Parenting practical tips to raise kids on digital era, and take proactive steps to address the online threats. Screen shot below, and you can read the article HERE .