The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) is working with technology giants to systematically overhaul application architectures to protect minor users automatically.
In a radio interview on Thursday, CWC Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales asserted that merely offering “child-friendly settings” on online applications is no longer sufficient to guarantee the safety of children in cyberspace.
“We are collaborating with social media and gaming platforms to ensure that there are features na pambata lang talaga at iba’t ibang klaseng bata pa iyan ano, iba’t ibang age bracket pa (intended for children, across different age brackets) to make sure that their accounts are safe,” he said.
Tapales said many parents and children still struggle to navigate and adjust complex internet safety features.
He warned that relying solely on user literacy to navigate these settings leaves many children vulnerable to digital threats.
“The safety of children on the internet should not depend on the ability of parents and children to navigate your platform. Marami pong dinosaur sa atin, hindi tayo marunong (Many among us are not techy, we don’t know it), so you have to make it safe by design,” he added.
Under this proposed systemic shift, the app’s native design would automatically implement age-appropriate protections for every minor user.
While pushing for systemic changes with tech giants, Tapales also urged parents and guardians to actively study modern technology to ensure youth safety.
He said avoiding the complexities of cyberspace, the internet, gadgets, and applications is no longer a viable option, stressing that parental digital literacy serves as the strongest shield against online hazards.
If adults remain uninformed, it will become increasingly difficult to monitor and protect the next generation from cyberbullying and online predators, he added.
Tapales also reminded the public that the welfare of children must be a priority today, challenging the conventional notion of youth as merely future resources.
“We always say ang mga bata ang ating kinabukasan, pero we always forget na hindi lang sila kinabukasan, sila rin po ang ating kasulukuyan (We always say that children are our future, but we always forget that they are not just the future, they are also our present [hope]),” he said.
Tapales further said ensuring child welfare and digital safety is an urgent, collective responsibility that must be addressed immediately as the nation prepares for the opening of classes. (PNA)