Parents today worry about more than just screen time. From online scams and misinformation to cyberbullying and identity theft, keeping children safe online has become one of the newest challenges of modern parenting.
As Filipino families spend more time online for school, work, entertainment and everyday transactions, experts say digital safety requires more than fast internet connections. It also calls for awareness, vigilance and responsible online behavior — lessons that often begin at home.
This is the focus of Online Alerto, the online safety advocacy of PLDT Home that aims to help Filipinos become more informed and responsible digital citizens.
Launched in October 2022 as a Facebook community initiative, Online Alerto was created in response to the growing need for digital safety awareness in the country. More than an online group, it serves as a digital community where Filipinos can access educational content, practical safety tips and discussions on navigating today’s increasingly complex online environment.
The Online Alerto community has grown to more than 77,000 members, reflecting the increasing relevance of conversations surrounding online vigilance, misinformation, scams, digital well-being and responsible internet use among Filipino families and communities.
The need for such conversations is becoming more urgent. A 2026 report by TransUnion showed that Filipinos remained more exposed to digital fraud than the global average, with the country’s suspected digital fraud rate reaching 4.1 percent in 2025 compared with the global average of 3.8 percent. The report also found that 72 percent of surveyed Filipino consumers experienced digital fraud attempts through online platforms, email, phone calls or text messages between August and December 2025, significantly higher than the global average of 53 percent.
To help address these concerns, Online Alerto regularly produces educational and community-driven content that teaches users how to spot scams, identify misinformation and practice responsible social media behavior. The platform also opens conversations about real-life online experiences through Facebook Live sessions featuring public figures and content creators.
Among those who have participated are PLDT High Speed Hitters athletes Mika Reyes, Jessey De Leon and Kiana Dy, who shared their experiences dealing with online pressure, social media toxicity, public scrutiny and the importance of maintaining healthy digital boundaries.
Beyond online discussions, PLDT Home is bringing digital safety education directly to young people through Online AlerTour, an on-ground campus initiative conducted in partnership with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.
The program tackles phishing scams, misinformation, identity theft, online fraud and responsible social media behavior, equipping students with practical knowledge to navigate digital spaces more safely. To date, Online AlerTour has engaged more than 500 students from campuses including Far Eastern University, Universidad de Manila and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
“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.
Jimenez said the PLDT Group continues to strengthen cybersecurity, advance responsible artificial intelligence and apply security-by-design across its networks. He added that the company uses a specialized child protection platform that automatically detects and blocks URLs linked to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
From January to March 2026 alone, the PLDT Group blocked 49 billion access attempts to malicious domains, prevented 1.4 billion cyber attacks and data breaches, and blocked 208,000 access attempts to OSAEC-related URLs and content.
As Filipino families continue to embrace an increasingly digital way of life, advocates say online safety is no longer solely a technology issue but a parenting and community responsibility as well. Initiatives such as Online Alerto aim to give parents and children the knowledge they need to navigate the digital world with greater confidence, responsibility and care.
