MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Google launches their newest campaign, “Cyberpeace: Creating a peaceful internet together”, in celebration of Safer Internet Day.
As the call for a safer internet in the country and around the world strengthens, Google takes a deeper look into what it really means to surf the web safely by conducting a study. Entitled “Google’s Digital Wellbeing of Families” report, the survey shows that 71% of Filipino households rely on digital technology to connect with their families, and 85% of parents said that they don’t feel comfortable with their child being exposed to inappropriate online content.
In partnership with NGO Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, Google will mobilize YouTube creators, teachers, employees, and other volunteers starting on February 11, 2020, to teach at least 10,000 high school students nationwide, from both public and private schools nationwide on how to use the internet in a more responsible and safer way.
Google’s Be Internet Awesome curriculum, created with a more Filipino context will focus on five core concepts and values:
1. Online reputation
2. Critical thinking to fight scams and misinformation
3. Privacy and security
4. Cyberbullying
5. Reporting inappropriate online behaviors
It will also tackle other relevant issues in the country today such as catfishing and cancel culture.
“It is an honor to be working with Google and the Department of Education, as this project seeks to build a culture of peace in the internet. Together with Google and DepEd, we are strongly advocating for this campaign to have a platform, to be able to teach knowledge, values, and way of life that reflect peaceable values online, and for our high school learners to foster meaningful connections amidst differences,” expressed Bai-Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, Founder and Chief Peace Mission Keeper of Teach Peace Build Peace Movement. “We are glad to play an important role in raising a community of Cyberpeace heroes of volunteers, teachers, and YouTube creators towards a harmonious offline and online environment.”
In addition, the Cyberpeace campaign aims to help Filipinos use technology with some tools that makes browsing the internet safer. Among these are: Google 2-step Verification that protects accounts with both passwords and devices; Incognito that allows private browsing; Family Link that helps parent’s guide and supervise their kid to good content; Google Safe Search filters out explicit content; YouTube Kids a safer video experience for kids.
“Digital Responsibility and Online Safety are key Google priorities, and we believe that the youth will only be able to reap the benefits of the digital economy if they will thrive in a peaceful online environment. We strive to further strengthen this commitment by continuously creating programs and tools that help enable a safer internet and empower families to build healthy digital habits together,” shared Yves Gonzalez, Head of Public Policy and Government Relations of Google Philippines.
The Cyberpeace campaign kicked off yesterday with a pilot class at San Francisco High School in Quezon City, led by volunteers local Edu Tuber Team Lyqa and YouTube creator Janina Vela. This will be followed by classes in public and private high schools nationwide.
To join the Cyberpeace movement, you can reach out to Google or Teach Peace Build Peace Movement social media accounts.
