Cyber Wellness is about the proactive and positive use of the internet, social and mobile applications.
Cyber Wellness is not a new concept, its the non-techie version of online safety. This is about the ideal online behaviour– how digital media, social and mobile applications are used with the end in mind of adding value, and protecting oneself from any forms of cyber abuse and bullying.
Why Cyber Wellness?
This picture from Facebook page Dim Sum and Doughnuts can best illustrate the need for a Cyber Wellness program.
The Evolution of Cyber Wellness in the Philippines
The idea to start a campaign like this was conceptualised on 2010.
It was a turning point for the early adopters of blogging and social media back then because mainstream media and PR/Ad/Marketing agencies have embraced the platform. So early adopters, like me, have chosen a niche to take advantage of this opportunity. Some embraced Digital Marketing and PR, others Politics and still others eCommerce, and these colleagues are now popular in the niche they have chosen.
As for me, I stuck to my HR and OD origin and decided to influence the industry (human resource management) instead to go digital social and mobile. But I thought then, if others will engage executives to convince companies to take advantage of the opportunity and protect their reputation, why not offer the same to families?
Keep Your Family Safe Online Seminars
So I presented via Facebook the idea of holding a supposedly one time parenting seminar. Chay Saputil, who was promoting online safety for a software company volunteered to help-out. Carlo Ople, who was a gamer then, also volunteered to share his experience so parents will be enlightened of the effects of gaming. Girlie Corda, who was into creatives and strategic communications, volunteered to do the creative materials for us. The seminar was an instant hit, and the learning event has become one of the sought after seminars for parents. Thus, the first phase of cyber wellness campaign was born.
Read: More Boys Are Sexually Violated in PH – UNICEF
the 1st part of the advocacy campaign is about keeping your family safe online
Because of the turn of events, the announcement page, websafetyforparents.org, was converted to a blog, and became our platform to discuss web safety tips for parents. It eventually won the Best in Advocacy Blog on 2010.
Award Winning Advocate Blogger of Cyber Wellness
The following year, 2011, the same initiative propelled us to become a finalist for Globe’s 1st [email protected] Awards.
Cyber/Bullying Awareness and Prevention Campaign
Not long after that, the program evolved from teaching parents, to educating young people to be responsible on their online behaviour. Unknown to these youngsters, they can either be victims of cyber bullying or bashers of another person. I thought back then, anytime soon, cyber bullying will become a major issue. I published a blog post/open letter ( I can’t recall if I also sent an email to major networks, but I think I did) inviting them to collaborate and help out on the campaign. Anytime soon, I thought then, there will be major issue. I got no response, but a few weeks after that, a network launched their think before you click campaign.
As I was anticipating (but hoping it’ll not happen), a major cyber bullying incident broke out– the Chris Lao, “I was not informed”, case. The irony was, a news clip of the same network which launched above campaign, was the trigger point of nationwide cyber bullying.
Because we’re campaigning online about the threat of cyber abuse, before a major incident happened, we’ve been invited left and right for our awareness and prevention campaign in schools.
cyber/bullying talk by ASKSonnie at UST w/ Mulat Pinoy
Parents, Schools and Cyber Wellness
Soon after the Chris Lao incident, we have other high profile bullying and online abuse cases. Because of that, new laws were passed– the anti-cyber crime, anti-bullying and data privacy laws.
Add to that, an interesting jurisprudence by the Supreme Court. A resolution in a case wherein students were disbarred from marching on their graduation day because of an online behaviour that violated school policy, underscored the need for schools and parents to work closely in ensuring kids will be responsible users of social media and mobile apps.
Read: Why Schools Should Have A Cyber Wellness Program
Because of the changes in our digital landscape, our program further evolved. Our approach has become holistic to include all stakeholders. Our democratic space is a breeding ground for online abuse, thus, educating parents, kiddos and the academe is the best defence from abuses.
We’ve been to different schools, colleges and universities, parent organisations, NGOs to facilitate cyber wellness learning activities. Some schools even incorporated our cyber wellness program for their faculty development seminar.
UNICEF sponsored event for Students (photo by Mulat Pinoy)
Cyber wellness for parents and Guidance Counselors
Cyber Wellness incorporated in Faculty Development Program
What comprises a Cyber Wellness program
We seek to provide an integrated learning, so all stakeholders will be on the same page as far as the objectives are concern
Stakeholders:
- School Admin
- Faculty Members and Guidance Counselors
- Parents
- Students
- Corporations and Employees
- NGOs and Social Workers
- Government (Dep Ed and Baranggay)
Main Objectives of the Program:
- For Schools: Align school policies to that of the legal framework, Dep Ed guidelines and best practices.
- For Corporations: Enhanced company policies to reflect provisions of the cybercrime and data privacy laws
- Provide learning interventions that will enhance positive and proactive use of internet, social web and mobile platforms. With the end result of adding value to oneself and the organization they represent
- Equip participants how to protect themselves, the family and the school and the organization they represent from negative online experiences or cyber abuses. And know how to respond when they faced one
- Bridge the digital divide
- Provide awareness of the effects of bullying and other forms of cyber abuses
Cyber Wellness Advocate Partners
We are open for collaboration with other advocates, brands, NGOs to advance our common interests, despite the differences in the nature of our initiatives.
With some of the officers of Child Protection Network/ Ako Para sa Bata
Advocates- Sonnie Santos and Atty. Chris Lao (former cyberbullying victim)
More needs to be done
My Facebook account, Page and this blog has become a help line/ chat support for parents, kiddos and other victims of cyber abuse who are seeking help. I personally brought the experiences of these victims to DOJ. The need right now is have a facility for victims to talk to someone anonymously but freely (while they are still embarrassed, confused and not confident yet to disclose their identities). Some would like to commit suicide, others (victims and their parents) are ashamed because of scandalous videos or nude photos involve. To add disappointment to rather awful experience, when they visit a women and child protection unit of PNP, or the Cybercrime units of either PNP and NBI, the victims alleged that they were advised by these agencies that it’ll be difficult and expensive to identify the culprit, discouraging them on the process. Here’s hoping that DOJ will be able to address these concerns in the future.
How You Can Participate?
If you’re from the academe either as a guidance counselor, teacher, as a decision maker, you can make cyber wellness as integral part of the (1) academic and non academic programs of students (all levels), (2) collaborate w/ the parent organizations to have the run the parent’s edition of this program to parents and (3) Include this in the faculty development seminar.
If you’re a parent, you can reach out to the school thru the parent organization or the class adviser of your kid and request for a learning intervention for kids and a digital parenting seminar.
If you’re an HR of you’re company, this is something that needs to be included in your engagement program because employee online behaviour affects not only productivity, but employee image and reputation.
You can reach us at asksonnie[at]outlook[dot]ph or +63949 384 3504 for assitance.
ASIDE: Sharing with you some of the photos of our cyber wellness learning sessions
Just thinking about this gives me the chills. While I’m not a parent, I look out for my brother who is ten years younger than me, a boy, and is almost always on his phone or laptop. I’ve done steps to monitor his online searches in secret, and to monitor his texts and chats, and so far, I’ve been able to do my “job” as a big sister. However, I can’t keep tabs on him 24/7, so a campaign like this should definitely be more out there. Great read as usual, sir.
I find it astonishing on how many parents chose to document their children’s lives of Facebook since the day they were born. And then, as soon as they are old enough to understand what a computer is, they give them phones and ipads to play with, without thinking of how many things they get exposed to. You can’t control the internet and giving a child access to it is a big mistake, it’s like taking away their innocence way too early. Shame, really shame!
This is fantastic. it is so important for us to be responsible online and to help our child to learn how to stay safe. I see so many teenagers with problems relating to online relationships even with their peers. I always think twice before I publish online, but this is not true of everyone!
I think we all have to attend these kind of events to which cyber wellness, cyber bullying and such are discussed. A lot of us are using social media to sometimes we forget our responsibility in the cyberspace. We all have to be responsible to everything we share and comment.
Hi I am from India. And I am wondering if I can take some kind of tutorials from you and then spread the message here?
Sure!
I love and support this kind of advocacy, no one deserves to be bullied physically or online. Congratulations to all you achievements. And thank you for leading the advocacy you surely help a lot from what you’re doing.
People are irresponsibly using social media to publicly shame other people. While reading your article I was at the same time thinking how expensive it is to go after those who bullies online. I hope the government will do something about this. The cybercrime law is there but are the people (victims) really protected by it?
irresponsible use can be addressed by education. as for the cybercrime law, my next post will be some stats on about abuses
We should all be part of this! Our era now mostly uses technology so I as a mom is very cautious in terms of what information I post online. I also discouraged cyber bullying! We should be aware of what are the things we comment on each other’s social media account. Because there are times when we didn’t even notice that we are already bullying someone by making fun out of their pictures like memes for example.
I didn’t grow up in a world of social media like facebook, but some of the stories we hear are absolutely horrific. Although I don’t have my own children yet, it literally scares me to consider some of the things they will be exposed to as a result of the internet.
I am so grateful that you are using this medium for such a strong and powerful cause. Stay inspiring Sonnie! 🙂
It is very reassuring to know that there are causes like yours. I have three boys attending school and though I trust their school as responsible institution that does not tolerate bullying, my children have internet access especially if doing homework and that is what I fear the most — cyber bullying. I strongly agree that such irresponsible acts online should be stopped as they may create more than fear to children.
More needs to be done to help are academic institutions
I think it is a very worthy cause to protect our children from all forms of bullying.This campaign is very much needed because cyberbullying is a silent type of bullying.Unlike physical abuse, one may not notice its effects.As a new parent, it is one of my concerns that the online community might prey on my child.I’d love to spread the word about any of your sessions.
We’ll keep you posted for any upcoming event.
This is such a good cause and it’s something that we should all be part of. I was a victim of cyber-bullying years back. I was ready to take it to court but the ‘bully’ finally let it go & took the hate blog down. It was traumatizing so now, even if I have a blog & am pseudo-active in a few social media sites, I make a conscious effort to choose what I post.
These days, a lot of people feel empowered because of social media to the point that it is no longer healthy. Companies should review their guideline and policies as well to ensure that the company and its employees are protected. And of course, at home, it is important that parents are informed. Education is key.
First, congratulations on your recognitions. I did not know that there is such a concept as cyber-wellness until I saw this post. This is such a worthy advocacy. Parents need to be educated on how to prevent cyber-bullying and, in case it happens, how to handle it. Educating parents and guardians is the key. First and foremost, they should be responsible in what they post in social media, especially if it concerns their children. They should think many times before posting a photo or video, an not just because it’s cute or pretty.
Thank you very much. Equipping parents and the kids of the right framework is the key.
I do wish I had known of this way back. I guess I’ve been living under a rock for the most part, but this is a truly great advocacy to do for this generation. parents really should supervise the way their kids explore the internet when they do. There was this one time I caught my pamangkin watching some morbid recreation of this cereal commercial, with guns pulled out and other stuff that shouldn’t really be seen by kids her age (she’s 6)… From that moment on whenever she and my kids watch youtube on the tv, I always try to be in the room so that I can steer them in the right channels to watch 🙂
our session on digital parenting discusses the different apps that can help parents in filtering content for kids
This is amazing and this must be shared more often to promote awareness especially that Filipinos nowadays are so inclined with the digital world only a few know how to use it properly. Parents should also act and guide their children towards the use of the internet because a simple click of a link is an open door to many things that might harm our children.
Education is a must and awareness is a priority towards a responsible society.
thank you. educating people of the right framework is the key
Cyber bullying is such a major issue in the UK, most of the time it goes unnoticed by parents until something tragic happens to the person involved and usually the police are then called in, I know the UK police have special branches who deal with this but I’m not aware of anyone who has spread awareness for Internet safety here as you do in the Phillipines! This is such a excellent informative post!
Thank you! We have a cybercrime unit here in PH, but there is no specific law yet for cyber bullying involving adults. We believe education is the key, thus, this we do our part to protect and empower the youth.
Beautiful and much needed advocay. The internet is a beautiful thing but of course you’d never know what can go wrong so having that idea will ensure that everyone is capable of what to do in worst case scenarios.
Interesting perspective of how cyberspace is. I have always had lovely encounters with it, but I know a very darker side exists
Cyber security for children is a must. This is one concern of all over the world. Here is India there are organisations that are actively working on the concept.But we have long way t go.
@himanshilydiasingh:disqus How is cyber wellness being handled in India? And who is in-charge, Gov’t, NGO or private companies?
Truly an advocacy worth supporting nowadays. I used to think how it will be like in the future if people will not be well acquainted with the cyber landscape. Such horror if you’ll ask me. Good thing there are platform like this that will enable parents to be equipped with knowledge all about digital.
Patty
pattyvillegas.com
This is such an amazing subject to be speaking out about especially where you have a voice and are able to connect. I love that you are such an advocate for this subject, too.
This is a wonderful advocacy! Would love to connect with you and collaborate on a future workshop for parents. 🙂
Anytime @teresadumadag:disqus
Internet is indeed a powerful tool but this could bring harm too especially if we do not use it properly… parents should be aware of the things that their kids can absorb from the web… not all sources they get from here can lead them to proper information and worst, some are just so inappropriate that can spoiled their innocent minds… i guess the parents should really guide their kids when using the internet and teach their kids how to be responsible as well..
now that kids are more engaged with social media, they should be aware of the consequences of whatever action they make online
I think it’s such a good thing to protect your family and children from thing on Internet. There is so much spam and stupid things you don’t want children to see!
This is a great concept that has deep implications on our society. Cyber bullying and all other forms of abuses online is a bane and needs to be stopped. Parents, tech savvy and especially non-tech savvy ones, need to be educated on how to guide their children in the safe use of the internet.
My children loves watching videos on YouTube, tutorials on Minecraft for example. That is where they picked up foul language. In one survey I saw, 85% of young women have watched (videos they should not be watching.) We have seen reports of deaths – suicides due to cyber bullying.
Getting educated is the first step. Knowing how to and educating children is the next step.