Amid alarming online threats, including the recent case of a child’s face being manipulated with AI and sold as sexual content, children are urging parents to be informed, not fearful, and to be more supportive in keeping them safe online.
This call is one of the most urgent findings from the 2024 global study “Protecting Children from Online Grooming,” conducted by Save the Children, and Western Sydney University’s Young and Resilient Research Centre. Funded by Safe Online, the study engaged 604 children from seven countries, including the Philippines.
Photo: Save the Children Philippines
“Children want their parents and caregivers to understand the platforms they [children] use, who they interact with, what they share, and how they might be harmed online,” noted the study.
While children often want to turn to parents when they encounter risks online, many feel their parents are ill-equipped or uninformed about digital platforms. This gap in understanding leaves children feeling unsupported and may prevent them from seeking help when it matters most.
“We hear it directly from children: they want our support, not our judgment. But to do that, we—parents, caregivers, and teachers—need to be also digitally informed. Otherwise, we risk leaving them alone to face these dangers,” said Jerly Villanada, Save the Children Philippines’ Child Protection Manager.
In the study, children specifically asked for parents and caregivers to:
- Understand the platforms and applications their children use
- Learn about the risks as well as the benefits of children’s digital lives, instead of focusing only on danger
- Talk to them openly, without fear or shame
- Support them in identifying red flags, such as strangers asking for photos or personal information
- Know how to block, report, and respond to harmful online behavior
“We must never assume that the children’s silence means safety. Children are already navigating these digital risks. The question is: are we doing enough to guide them through it? Parents don’t have to be tech experts but being curious, open, and willing to learn alongside your child can make all the difference,” said Villanada.
Save the Children Philippines has been actively working to prevent Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and the spread of Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Material (CSAEM). Since 2020, the organization, has trained 26,741 children and 6,874 parents in Metro Manila, Cavite, Davao City, Tagum City, Bukidnon, and General Santos City—areas identified as high-risk for OSAEC.
The leading child rights organization aligns with Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act, which it actively supported during its passage in 2022. The organization remains committed to working for and with children by reinforcing education and information campaigns that strengthen their ability to adopt safer behaviors online.
If you suspect or witness cases of OSAEC and CSAEM, report them immediately by contacting the Makabata Helpline at 1383, its online platforms, or the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center’s Aleng Pulis hotline at 0919-777-7377.
To learn more about how to protect children online and support Save the Children Philippines’ work for and with children, visit www.savethechildren.org.ph.
