Digital parenting pushed amid youth violence

June 25, 2026 - 18:02

Following a tragic shooting incident at a school in Tacloban City that left two minors dead, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has issued a strong call for Filipino parents to step up their role in monitoring their children's online activities. The agency is pushing for what it calls "digital parenting" as a direct response to the growing link between youth violence and unregulated access to digital content.

The CPD argues that many young people today are exposed to violent material, harmful online challenges, and dangerous social circles through their smartphones and computers. Without active parental guidance, these exposures can shape behavior in ways that lead to real-world tragedies. The agency is not just asking parents to set screen time limits. It wants them to engage with their children's digital lives, understand the platforms they use, and have open conversations about what they see online.

This push comes at a time when the Philippines is seeing a troubling rise in youth-related violence, much of it tied to online influences. The CPD emphasizes that digital parenting is not about spying or strict control. It is about building trust and teaching kids how to navigate the internet safely. For many Filipino parents who grew up without the internet, this is a new challenge. But the agency says it is no longer optional. With the Tacloban incident as a stark reminder, the call is clear: parents must learn the digital world to protect their children from it.