SURFING THE ONLINE WORLD SAFELY

ANNA LUNA M. LAPUZ

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said children’s increased time on the internet means increased threat on their safety and security. The DSWD and the Department of Education are advocating digital parenting among parents and child carers as guidance for a cautious and responsible use of cyberspace. Learners using the internet are at very high risk. They experience different forms of abuse with prolonged use. Children now use the internet for various activities -- communicating with others, for recreation, or for online learning. The two agencies said the time children have to engage on social media means they are at a great risk of cyberbullying or other cyber abuses. That is why it is important for parents now more than ever to make sure their children are safe when exposed to surfing online. They should monitor their children's activity when browsing online. In line with this, the DSWD launched the Family Development Session On-Air topics under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to teach guardians on how to regulate their children’s use of gadgets. Here, parents are educated on features that would restrict or block malicious sites on the Internet, and how to check sites visited by their children. The DSWD is also reiterating to parents the importance of establishing an open line of communication between parents and children, and within the family. Despite the guidelines, the most important thing is to have a strong relationship with their children to prevent the risk in the use of gadgets and the Internet. It is vital that the children are able to share and talk about their problems to their parents, the DSWD said. Parents could lessen the exposure of the children to gadgets by allowing them to do physical activities that would also serve as bonding time for the family.

-OoOThe author is Teacher I at Baruya Elementary School