Facebook to hone Filipinos’ digital literacy skills for safer online culture

Officials of Facebook join together for the launch of the digital literacy skills program for Filipinos to create a better and responsible online cluture. INQUIRER.net photo / Daphne Galvez

MANILA, Philippines —Social media giant Facebook is aiming to develop the digital literacy skills of Filipinos through relevant training programs in order to create a safer and more responsible online culture.

Facebook Philippines launched on Tuesday a nationwide digital literacy program dubbed as “Digital Tayo” that offers training and learning resources to help Filipinos who want to learn more or improve their digital skills.

“Today we will launch an important task of strengthening a digital Philippines where Filipinos are safe and responsible online,” Claire Amador, Facebook Philippines head of Policy, said during the program’s launching in Ortigas, Quezon City.

For her part, Facebook Community Affairs for the Asia Pacific Region Director Clair Deevy said that the program is not only about digital literacy but also about digital citizenship.

“‘It is designed to help Filipinos with vital skills such as critical thinking, empathy, and being adept at using tools for online safety and well-being,” Deevy said at the event.

The program, which is a local adaptation of Facebook’s global digital literacy program “We Think Digital,” aims to conduct online and in-person training sessions for a million Filipino netizens by the end of 2020.

Facebook has partnered with government agencies such as Department of Education (Deped), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and civil society organizations for its program.

The program’s modules are designed to equip people with skills including the ability to think critically, how to communicate respectfully and engage in digital discourse.

These modules will be distributed to students and youth leaders through DepEd, to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through OWWA, and through local communities through the DICT and in training programs through partners from civil society.

Topics covered in the program include privacy, safety, security, digital discourse, and knowing one’s digital footprint which will be organized in four modules.

The four modules under the Digital Tayo program include:

1. What is the Internet? An explanation of the internet and social media, how they work, and the importance of digital citizenship.
2. Your Digital Footprint: All you need to know about safety ad security online and managing your digital footprint.
3. Be a Critical Thinker: Helping you discern different types of information and develop critical thinking and empathy when communicating online.
4. You as a Digital Citizen: Insights into digital discourse and the differences between interacting online versus offline, your rights and responsibilties, as well as internet concepts like netiquette, being a creator, copyright, and plagiarism.

These modules, which will range from 30 to 45 minutes to answer, will be available for free download on Digital Tayo’s official page free of charge, Facebook said.

Facebook added that it will get feedback from the people who will undergo the training through pre and post surveys.

The Philippines is the third country where Facebook has launched its digital literacy program, after Singapore and Argentina.

Citing data from the We are Social’s 2019 Digital Trends Report, Deevy noted how the Philippines is “definitely a very engaged community” as Filipinos are reported to be spending the most time online globally with an average of 10 hours and two minutes daily.

Internet users in the Philippines were also the heaviest users of social media with an average of four hours and 12 minutes spent on social media a day, Deevy said.

“The Philippines is definitely a very engaged community… The statistics we have indicates that people are interested in being part of the community,” she said. /jpv

Facebook Community Affairs for the Asia Pacific Region Director Clair Deevy. Photo from Facebook

Officials of Facebook along with representatives from DepEd, OWWA, DICT, and civil society organizations at the launch of Digital Tayo program in Ortigas, Quezon City. Photo from Facebook

Launch of Digital Tayo in Ortigas, Quezon City. Photo from Facebook

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