Digital literacy 'new' life skill for public, teenagers, says historian

Digital literacy, an ability to create and communicate information using technology, is a life skill that the public - especially teenagers - should possess, a digital historian said.

During a panel discussion for Safer Internet Day in Taguig City, digital historian and inclusion advocate Mona Magno-Veluz said a person with a problematic online history can limit their own chances of success.

"It is important because digital literacy is now a life skill. You cannot be successful in life if you have a problematic history online," she said.

"You cannot just rant online for the sake of ranting. It also comes with responsibilities," she added.

Magno-Veluz underscored that this new life skill is important because people are still learning to understand digital platforms and their effects on people, particularly on human behavior.

"We are at a time in our development as a society, I suppose, where these things do not yet come naturally to us," she said.

"There has not been enough recognition of the studies, for example, that say ranting online does not resolve your problems, things like that," she added.

Magno-Veluz made the statement during TikTok's launch of #ThinkTwice Troop on Thursday in Taguig City.

ThinkTwice Troop is a youth advocacy group that promotes online safety and emphasizes that protecting teenagers online is a shared responsibility of families, educators, industry leaders, policymakers, and communities.

The launch is in line with the celebration of Safer Internet Day.

Under Presidential Proclamation No. 417, the second Tuesday of February is declared "Safer Internet Day for Children Philippines," which aims to raise awareness on child online safety and protect them from online sexual abuse and exploitation. — BAP, GMA Integrated News