Cyberbullying in the Philippines: a parent's guide

Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through phones, computers and the internet: in group chats, comment sections, games, fake accounts and shared photos. For many Filipino children, it's tied closely to school, because the same classmates are in the class group chat.

What it looks like

• Hurtful messages, insults or threats
• Being left out of or kicked from group chats. See group chat exclusion and pile-ons.
• Embarrassing photos or videos shared without permission
• Edited photos, memes or "rate" posts about someone
• Fake accounts pretending to be the child. See fake accounts.
• Spreading rumours or gossip online
• Harassment in games: targeted insults, griefing, ganging up
• Sharing private messages or screenshots to humiliate

Why it hurts so much

• It follows children home. There's no break, even at night.
• It's public. A post can be seen by the whole school.
• It's permanent. Screenshots last.
• It can be anonymous. Not knowing who's behind it adds fear.
• Adults often don't see it.

Cyberbullying is linked to anxiety, low mood, poor sleep, falling grades and, in serious cases, self-harm. See cyberbullying and mental health.

The law

The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (RA 10627) requires all public and private elementary and high schools to adopt policies to prevent and address bullying, and it explicitly includes cyberbullying. Schools must have procedures for reporting, investigating and responding, and must inform parents. See the Anti-Bullying Act and your child's school.

Some online behaviour can also break other laws, such as threats, identity theft, sharing intimate images (RA 9995, RA 11930) and online sexual harassment under the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313). Children under 15 are generally exempt from criminal liability under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, but they can still face school and community interventions, and older teens can be held responsible.

How to respond

1. Listen and stay calm. Thank your child for telling you.
2. Don't take the phone away as a reaction. Children stop telling parents when they fear losing their phone.
3. Save evidence. See how to save evidence.
4. Don't retaliate. Help your child avoid responding in anger.
5. Block and report the accounts on the platform.
6. Involve the school if classmates are involved.
7. Report to authorities if there are threats of violence, sexual content, extortion or identity theft.
8. Watch your child's wellbeing in the days and weeks after.

The full steps are in your child is being cyberbullied: what to do.

Prevention

• Talk about kindness online and what to do if they see bullying. See teaching kids to be upstanders.
• Make sure accounts are private and comments are limited.
• Keep the conversation going so your child tells you early.
• Know the signs that a child is being cyberbullied.
• Consider the possibility that your own child might be involved in bullying others. See when your child is the bully.