Students are being reminded that what they share online can have lasting consequences, as tech companies and law enforcement raise concerns about digital safety.
Speaking at the 2025 AngelNet Summit, hosted by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, Elijah Mendoza, digital communications senior manager at Smart Communications, advised students to be cautious about what they post.
“As a rule, if you can’t confidently do it in person, it may not be a good idea to show it online,” Mendoza told high school attendees. “Remember, once you post something on the internet, it is likely to stay there forever. It may never disappear.”
Mendoza noted that oversharing details such as daily routines, favorite things, or pet names could make students vulnerable to online predators or scams. “The key is mindfulness,” he said. “You won’t hand over the key to your house to a random person. It’s the same in the digital world. Be careful who you share your personal information with.”
The summit was part of PLDT and Smart’s broader effort to promote digital literacy through its “Be CyberSmart” campaign, which aims to help young users develop safer online habits. The initiative complements the company’s cybersecurity efforts, including network defenses and content filtering.
According to company data, PLDT and Smart blocked over 338,000 attempts to access child sexual abuse and exploitation materials in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The companies have also blacklisted more than 1.7 million URLs linked to such content.
The effort is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 16, which calls for the protection of children from exploitation and abuse.
Mendoza emphasized that while technology brings opportunities, it also carries risks, especially for young users. “We want students to understand that digital responsibility starts with them,” he said.