Daven Tamayo

How to guard oneself online? Learning internet safety reminders from the youth

Article (news)

ONLINE

Jonathan Cellona

ABS-CBN News

While the Philippines has been considered a global social media capital, the digital landscape has become a double-edged sword.While connectivity is high, so is the ingenuity of online predators.Now, a new generation of “digital guardians&quot; is stepping up to protect not just their accounts, but their families and elders as well.The rallying cry started with Jozh Doce and his friends, who developed a simple yet powerful slogan: “Be Sane, Check the Domain!”The phrase targets online scammers. Most digital fraudsters rely on triggering a sense of panic or extreme urgency to bypass a user’s logic.So, by encouraging people to take a breath and &quot;be sane,&quot; Jozh emphasizes that a pause to inspect a website’s URL or the domain is often the only barrier needed to prevent total financial loss.Still, it’s no longer just about links anymore. Miakka Olaes, a college student, warns that the eyes can no longer be trusted.“Yung mga videos po online, ‘wag po basta basta maniniwala kasi since madami na pong AI na nagagawang videos,” she explained.With the rise of deepfakes, scammers can now impersonate voices and faces of loved ones in distress. Miakka’s advice is clear: visual skepticism is a survival skill in the modern internet era.For Julyn Pagtakhan and her friend Henz, the defense against disinformation is the habit of cross-referencing.“I always fact check all information sa mga nakikita ko,” Julyn said, noting that there are plenty of reputable sources available if one takes the time to look.Henz further cautioned against &quot;social engineering”, the long-game scam where strangers build friendships online only to eventually ask for financial &quot;favors.&quot;Perhaps the most sobering takeaway from these young advocates is the responsibility they feel toward those less tech-savvy.Jozh noted that older generations remain the most vulnerable to these sophisticated attacks.Today’s youth are no longer just passive users; they are becoming the first line of defense for their parents and grandparents, ensuring that the &quot;hyper-connected hub&quot; of the Philippines remains a safe space for everyone.

While the Philippines has been considered a global social media capital, the digital landscape has become a double-edged sword.

While the Philippines has been considered a global social media capital, the digital landscape has become a double-edged sword.