[Tech Thoughts] Building safe online spaces requires whole-of-society approach

The Safe Online Spaces forum tackles different aspects of online safety, from legal and technological issues to community and family-related efforts, to foster safe spaces for children The Safe Online Spaces forum brought together various stakeholders, including telecommunications companies, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, to discuss strategies for ensuring online safety for children amidst rising concerns about digital threats. Three panel discussions focused on defining regulations for online safety, addressing harmful content, and strengthening community support for children's digital resilience, emphasizing the need for parental involvement and awareness. Meanwhile, PLDT's COO highlighted the importance of collaboration among different sectors to tackle online safety challenges, acknowledging that no single entity can solve the problem alone, This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. At a PLDT and Smart event dedicated toward starting the conversation on building safer online spaces for children, I saw members of the community at large discuss ways on how they could foster safety in the digital age, especially given reports of school shootings and the spread of child sexual abuse material. The Safe Online Spaces forum, held Tuesday, September 29, convened telecommunications companies, law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, parents and other stakeholders. They held three panel discussions on different aspects of online safety, from legal and technological issues to community and family-related efforts, to help bring about these safe spaces for kids and teens. As a member of the media who did not have a child, I felt out of place during the proceedings, but as the day went on, I felt like everyone had a part to play in fostering a safe environment for the young. PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer Menardo Jimenez said during the forum’s opening speech that the problem of keeping and maintaining safe online spaces for the young was one “that can’t be solved by telcos or government playing God.” MENARDO JIMENEZ. PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer Menardo Jimenez speaks at the Safe Online Spaces forum on September 29, 2026. JImenez added that such a task “will be solved by the sectors in this room talking with each other, understanding what the problem is, and coming up with a solution to solve this problem together.” There were three panel discussions around specific themes. The first panel tried to define the safeguards by explaining existing regulations and policies or basically, what can and can’t be done in the process of protecting children online. During this panel, lawyer Jaye dela Cruz-Bekema, chief legislative staff officer for the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros brought up the Batang Ligtas Act — formerly Senate Bill No. 1819 or the Sagip Bata Act — which the Senate ratified recently. Word of the impending ratification at that time was met with applause, and it was nice seeing political will being celebrated and enacted in this way. The second panel featured Bea Bautista, TikTok’s communications lead for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand; national esports athlete and Philippine Tekken champion Alexandre “AK” Laverez; AK’s father, lawyer Ronie Laverez; and tech journalist Jayvee Fernandez, During this panel, they shared their views on how to identify and address harmful content, prevent the amplification of such content, and deal with possible online threats. This included reminding people that tech companies, both for the devices being used and the apps on said devices, had built-in features to address parental concerns. These, however, required an investment of attention and time from parents, who may not be as tech-savvy as their kids. One of the potential problem points in creating safe spaces online is that sometimes, parents or other adults don’t know how to navigate the online world as deftly as their children. To that end, the final panel discussion dealt with how specific societal units — families, schools, and the communities at large — can strengthen children’s digital resilience and provide support when online threats or harms occur. In this discussion, it was commonly brought up that parents needed to step up, so to speak, to be there for their kids, even if they don’t have the tech skills required to police kids’ gadgets 24/7. This panel brought out strategies for parents, teachers, and other community members to allow them to become the safe spaces kids need in times of crisis. It was touching, even though it also felt like it was meant for those privileged enough to be available for children to seek out. This is something I felt was left not entirely addressed, as not all parents can be there for their kids, especially if they’re OFWs separated by distance. But there may be other times for people to tackle that topic on. Only so much can be done in four hours. The Safe Online Spaces forum last Tuesday aims to be the first of many such events, allowing different stakeholders to share ideas and ask questions of the community on promoting online safety for children and teens. Jimenez, during his opening speech, acknowledged that there were limitations to what a telecommunications company could do, and simply reacting to online threats will not solve the issue of online harm; the issue will also not be solved by any one company alone. He added, “Our role as PLDT is to use our network and our reach to help reduce these digital risks, and to gather different perspectives to come up with clear priorities and practical recommendations as we move forward.” As a member of the media, I suppose I also have a part to play: that of sharing what threats are out there, and what a whole-of-society approach can do to build better online spaces for everyone. – Rappler.com