Online community zeroes in on minor protection, safe internet space
MANILA, Philippines – The internet is a modern blessing that allows millions of Filipinos to do a lot of important things at an incredible speed.
Things that usually take time to accomplish when they are done manually, such as showing up physically at work, going to school, running a business, connecting with loved ones, and making bank transactions online. Digital access makes it possible to accomplish many tasks with just a click of your fingers — and providers of fast and reliable internet make sure this experience is even more enhanced.
Yet leading a digital life also makes you prone to the dangers that lurk within it. It exposes you to phishing scams, identity theft, misinformation, love scams, fake news, and other harmful online behavior. Internet users are, thus, navigating a digital environment that demands not only access but, more importantly, awareness, vigilance and responsibility because the more digital life becomes deeply woven into everyday living, the bigger the online risks become.
To address this growing reality that will no longer go away, internet provider PLDT Home has made it its responsibility to champion responsible digital citizenship through its online safety advocacy Online Alerto.
Growing online community
Launched in October 2022 as a Facebook community initiative, Online Alerto was designed to respond to the increasing need for digital safety awareness in the country. More than an online group, it is a growing digital community where Filipinos find educational content, actionable online safety tips, discussions about responsible internet use, and real-life conversations on navigating today’s increasingly complex digital world.
Today, more than three years since the initiative was launched, it has grown into a community of more than 77,000 members. This reflects the growing relevance of conversations around online vigilance, misinformation, scams, digital well-being, and responsible Internet use among Filipino families and communities.
It is no longer enough that your internet access impresses with its speed, bandwidth, or coverage area. As digital platforms become more and more deeply embedded in everyday life, users must also learn how to protect themselves, think critically online, and engage responsibly in digital spaces. If you are not careful, your safety may be compromised.
What’s even more alarming is a truth that the 2026 report by TransUnion uncovered: According to the report, Filipinos are more exposed to digital fraud than the global average, with the Philippines’ suspected digital fraud rate reaching 4.1% in 2025 versus the global rate of 3.8%.
The study also showed that 72% of surveyed Filipino consumers believe they were targeted by digital fraud attempts through online platforms, email, phone calls, or text messages between August and December 2025. This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 53%. This heightened exposure highlights the urgent need for stronger public awareness and digital safety education initiatives aimed at helping Filipinos recognize, avoid, and report online threats.
Protecting minors
Through it, the internet provider is able to regularly create educational and community-driven content that makes online safety more accessible and relatable to everyday Filipinos. Beyond sharing practical tips on spotting scams, identifying misinformation, and practicing responsible social media behavior, the platform also opens meaningful conversations around the real-life online experiences of public figures, creators, and young Filipinos.
Among its key initiatives are Facebook Live sessions featuring personalities who openly discuss the realities of navigating digital spaces responsibly. Featured guests included PLDT High Speed Hitters, athletes Mika Reyes, Jessey De Leon, and Kiana Dy. They shared their experiences dealing with online pressure, social media toxicity, public scrutiny, and the importance of maintaining healthy digital boundaries.
The initiative’s Facebook Live sessions have so far attracted more than 25,000 attendees, underscoring the growing awareness and public interest in conversations surrounding online safety, digital responsibility, and healthy online behavior. By opening these conversations to the public, the advocacy is able to help younger internet users better understand the impact of their online behavior and encourages more mindful and responsible engagement in digital spaces.
“As digital platforms increasingly shape how Filipinos live, learn, work, and transact, online safety must be embedded into the infrastructure that connects them,” said Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr., PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer.
He added: “Through it, the PLDT Group continues to strengthen cybersecurity, advance responsible AI, and apply security?by?design across its networks. We use a specialized child protection platform that automatically detects and blocks URLs linked to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), preventing billions of illicit access attempts. Beyond technology, we continue to work with various child rights organizations to promote child rights and online protection. For PLDT Home, true connectivity goes beyond access. It requires awareness, vigilance, and shared responsibility so Filipinos can engage online safely and with confidence.”
The group's cybersecurity efforts through the years show the scale of protection needed in today’s digital environment. From January to March 2026 alone, the group blocked 49 billion access attempts to malicious domains, prevented 1.4 billion cyber attacks and data breaches. It also blocked 208,000 access attempts to OSAEC-related URLs and content. These operational safeguards provide the technology backbone for Online Alerto’s broader mission of helping Filipino families become safer and more responsible digital citizens.
Beyond online conversations presented via the online community, the internet provider is also bringing digital safety education directly to students through Online AlerTour, an on-ground campus initiative conducted in partnership with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.
This program addresses pressing online concerns, including phishing scams, misinformation, identity theft, online fraud, and responsible social media behavior. In effect, it equips young Filipinos with the knowledge needed to become more vigilant and responsible digital citizens.
So far, school tour has engaged more than 500 students from various campuses, including Far Eastern University, Universidad de Manila, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. More campus activations are in the pipeline.
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