BALER, Aurora (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) urged Aurora youth to practice safe and responsible digital citizenship amid the growing use of online platforms.
The call was made during “Kilos Kabataan: Unite for a Digital Safe Future 2.0,” a forum for secondary and tertiary students and out-of-school youth that focused on digital safety, responsible online behavior, and media and information literacy.
PIA Assistant Regional Head Carlo Lorenzo Datu said the forum aimed to help participants assess online content, protect personal information, and make informed decisions when using digital platforms.
He urged the youth to think critically and verify information before sharing it online.
“Information shapes opinions and influences actions. Sharing truthful information can positively empower society while protecting one’s perception by others,” Datu said.
He also discussed how social media allows individuals to become information providers while exposing them to challenges such as fake news and echo chambers.
Datu cautioned participants against misleading, emotionally charged, and fabricated content designed to appear like legitimate news, emphasizing the need to examine information before accepting or sharing it.
Meanwhile, DICT Information Technology Officer and Provincial Head Ravenal De Jesus discussed common online threats and the precautions young users can take when using digital platforms.
Among the threats he discussed were phishing, loan shaming, tailgating, and social engineering techniques such as pretexting, which can put users’ personal information and accounts at risk.
He urged the participants to stay alert to these threats and practice caution in their online activities.
Likewise, Aurora Provincial Youth Development Office Officer-in-Charge Alvin Morada also expressed support for the initiative, saying the expanding digital space requires users, particularly young people, to exercise greater responsibility.
Morada described the forum as a call to action for young citizens to help build a safer digital environment and promote responsible technology use.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of Aurora youth to identify digital risks, evaluate information, and use online platforms responsibly in their communities. (CLJD/MAT, PIA Region 3-Aurora)
