New Study Reveals Online Risks for Filipino Youth

Child rights organization Plan International Pilipinas has released an assessment detailing the online habits, risks, and vulnerabilities of Filipino children and youth, along with recommendations to strengthen child protection mechanisms on digital platforms.

Presented on Feb. 26 in celebration of Safer Internet Day, the 2024 study gathered insights from 590 respondents, including 494 focus group participants and 80 online survey respondents aged 10–24.

It also incorporated perspectives from 16 key informant interviews with child protection experts and stakeholders.

The assessment covered Cavite, Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Guimaras, Leyte, and Davao.

Key Findings on Online Behavior

Children and youth primarily use digital platforms for communication (64.3%), education (47.7%), leisure (37.2%), and stress reduction (34.3%).

Facebook (33.2%) and Messenger (23.3%) remain the most widely used platforms, followed by TikTok (23%), Instagram (13.9%), and Twitter/X (6.6%).

Among non-mainstream platforms, the anime streaming and video-sharing site BiliBili had the highest usage at 52.8%, followed by the messaging app Signal (19.7%), live-streaming platform BigoLive (18.2%), chat service OmeTV (6.8%), and messaging app Tox (2.5%).

The report highlights a growing shift toward lesser-known, less-regulated digital spaces that offer greater privacy and autonomy, often away from parental supervision.

Rising Risks and Online Safety Concerns

This shift exposes young users to greater risks, including the unintentional sharing of personal details such as location, age, and photos.

Many also bypass age restrictions by using “alter” accounts, adult profiles, or borrowed devices, making them vulnerable to inappropriate content, targeted ads, and online threats.

Economic barriers contribute to this trend, as lower-income children rely on free platforms with weaker safety measures, while their peers access safer, paid options.

Respondents identified TikTok, Facebook, and Messenger as relatively child-friendly due to accessibility and ease of use but raised concerns about exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and potential exploitation.

They flagged platforms such as Telegram, Discord, OmeTV, and BigoLive as unsafe due to explicit content and unregulated interactions.

Online games like Valorant, Call of Duty, Roblox, and Fortnite were also cited as risky due to violent themes, toxic behavior, and the potential for online addiction.

Additionally, mobile wallet apps such as GCash and PayPal were deemed unsuitable for children due to scams and security threats.

Patterns in Online Usage by Age and Gender

Children aged 10–14 primarily use Roblox, Mobile Legends, Facebook, and YouTube, while those aged 15–17 are more active on social media and messaging apps.

Users aged 18–24 frequently engage with Facebook, TikTok, and online shopping platforms.

Some young women in the 18–24 age group admitted to using social media for dating.

Alarmingly, the study found that children as young as 10–14 are using dating and networking apps like OmeTV, Tinder, and Litmatch, which are designed for adults.

Recommendations for Child Protection

The assessment offers key recommendations for tech companies, including:

• Simplifying terms of service with video tutorials and multilingual options.
• Implementing enforceable age-based content ratings (e.g., “Rated 13+”).
• Strengthening platform safety features.

For the government, it urges stricter regulations, monitoring mechanisms, and expanded digital literacy programs for children, parents, and educators.

“This assessment is more than just a risk report—it’s a roadmap that highlights gaps leaving children vulnerable to harassment, exploitation, and abuse,” said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, executive director of Plan International Pilipinas.

She emphasized the need for child participation in shaping digital safety policies.

“Safe spaces we know before are not safe anymore. Child protection must start at home,” said Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, executive director of the Council for the Welfare of Children.

He warned that the growing use of “deepfakes,” or digitally manipulated videos, puts children at higher risk of online exploitation.

AI and Child Protection in the Digital Age

During the event, a roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) and child protection examined the risks and opportunities posed by emerging technologies.

Police Col. Jay D. Guillermo, chief of the Cyber Response Unit of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, noted that AI-related crimes have evolved rapidly alongside technological advancements.

“The rise of AI has made cybercrimes more sophisticated. Law enforcement must continuously adapt to these evolving threats,” he said.

Melissa Vergel De Dios, chief sustainability officer of PLDT and Smart, stressed the urgency of safeguarding children, calling them “the most vulnerable” online.

She highlighted efforts to block 1.6 million websites linked to abusive content, with AI increasingly being used to detect such material.

Atty. Yves Gonzales, head of government affairs and public policy at Google Southeast Asia, underscored the company’s strict platform policies.

“Google’s AI tools explicitly prohibit the creation or distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials,” he said, adding that violations are reported to the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Gonzales also cited updates to national laws, including Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, which explicitly bans AI-generated CSAEM.