PASIG CITY, February 28, 2019
–Consistent with its vision of zero tolerance against all forms of abuse,
exploitation, discrimination, bullying, and other forms of violence against
children, the Department of Education (DepEd) enjoins all parents to be more
mindful and attentive to the digital activities of children especially in the
wake of the so-called “Momo challenge” and other online challenges that
reportedly lead to self-harm and suicide among the youth.
Parents and guardians are urged
to maintain an open communication with their children, educate them about
responsible online behavior, monitor what they access online, and help them
understand that their parents and guardians are the foremost people they can trust
about matters that make them feel uncomfortable, coerced, or unsafe.
In school, the Department
emphasizes with the learners that their online safety is just as important as
their physical safety through age-appropriate and contextualized lesson plans
that enable them to still appreciate the internet as a safe and enjoyable
platform of learning.