Now in the Philippines, a safe and secure social networking advocacy app for children
The world has evolved. Our technological advancements brought us to where we are today – with almost everything at our fingertips. The internet offers a thousand and more opportunities and access to infinite information. We often rely on our phones and laptops for research, news, schedule, and socialization. Many of us would even do grocery shopping and home entertainment online. Indeed, digital technologies have completely changed the way we live.
In our hands is the technology that captures everything. From the minute we have captured our food, smile, or any activity, we share them online, and in minutes, too, our loved ones and even acquaintances can view them. With just one click of the share button, we may share information without even verifying whether such news is fake or otherwise.
As the internet can be an excellent place for information, entertainment, and social networking; it can likewise be the breeding place for fake news, explicit content, and cyberbullying. Reports had it that the web can be even more dangerous for children in low-income countries like the Philippines. More than the widespread access to low-cost internet and mobile devices, parental control, and adult supervision is lax due to various socio-economic factors. Sadly, our country is considered one of the world’s top hot spots for online child sexual exploitation among 10-14 year-olds.
Terre de Hommes-Netherlands Voice for Change
Such a situation prompted Terre de Hommes-Netherlands, an international non-governmental organization advocating and working to prevent child exploitation, to develop a revolutionary new digital app that’s safe and secure for young users.
Terre de Hommes-Netherlands operates in 17 countries, including the Philippines, introducing the app Voice for Change (VFC). Co-created with victims of child sexual exploitation in mind, the app prioritizes children advocates and the need of those vulnerable to abuse.
Its research and development took over a year, from March 2020 to June 2021, to ensure that the platform responds to the needs of children for support and assistance. It is also the goal of the app to carry out its advocacy against sexual exploitation.
Voice for Change Features
Verified information
Browsing the VFC app, we may say its features are similar to some popular social networking apps. Users can also post status updates, connect to other users, and engage in discussions. We also have access to online resources for information. But what makes it safe and different from usual social media apps is the availability of verified data. This means that VFC only accommodates verified information on relevant topics.
Secure and Private
The app has strict security and privacy provisions. Signing up requires approval by the Voice for Change administration and goes through a screening process. Logging in, too, requires a mobile number and a one-time password sent via SMS. To ensure protection, no personally identifiable details, including photos, are shared among users.
Users can also find relevant and verified information in VFC about different issues pertinent to children advocacies. Users can also genuinely voice opinions and engage in healthy discussions without fear of toxic perspectives and language. Overall, Voice for Change is a safe space with a directory of agencies and organizations users can contact to report concerns and actual cases of child exploitation and abuse.
Share thoughts
Happy about a recent achievement you would like to share? Freely share your happy thoughts privately and securely.
Be part of a discussion
Engage in a discussion about topics that interest you. You can also safely start a conversation with like-minded people about concerns relevant to the protection of children and similar issues.
Get Help
There are days you may feel down and want to talk to someone or listen to something inspiring. You can freely reach out to organizations and individuals that can offer professional help.
Report an Incident
You can always report incidents about child abuse and similar issues without fearing for your safety.
Very interesting, right? Download the Voice for Change app in the Google Play store.
iPhone and Google Chrome users can also use the web-based app via https://app.wearevoiceforchange.org/
Magandang apps po itong na develop nila para ma protektahan ang mga kabataan at matigil na ang child exploitation ❤️
maganda yan momi berlin para sa security ng mga anak natin.
Magnda ito momi berlin para sa mga anak ntin at s aiba pang kabataan, kelangn ng security nila sa furture ,very helpfuk ito thanks for sharing
This is so perfect to protect our children against harassment and abuse.
This is very important matter to tackle especially nowadays, this is very helpful to all parents and elders so they will know how to guide their kids on how to be smart in using social media so they will not be a victim of social media abuse
Maganda yan mamsh ❤️
Maganda app po ito, para maging secure ang bata po at mabigyan po sila ng proteksyon.
Ang galing naman Po NG app na to momi susubukan ko Ito mukhang safe at secured para sa mga bagets natin mahilig na rin sa social media.. mabuti meron na mga ganito ngayon,, iba na kase Ang sistema ngayon lahat halos nasa internet na ,, di Naman pwede Hindi gamitin NG Bata Ang social media dahil part narin NG new normal,, salamat po sa pag share nito momi.
Thanks for sharing po Mommy. para maging aware at secure ang bata po at mabigyan po sila ng proteksyon.
Very helpful at useful ng app nato momsh. Very timely din. Dahil madaming kabataan ngaun ang napapahamak sa sex exploitations.
I download ko po to protect my kids at lumawak din ang aming kaisipan patungkol d2❤️salamat momi Berlin for sharing this info with us.God Bless
Para din ito s kaligtasan ng mga bata ang app na ito kasi ngayon s teknolohiya minsan dapat talaga may security at limitasyon lalo n s mga menor de edad
Thank you sa kaalamang ito momi, sa pamamagitan nito ay mas mamomonitor ko na ang mga anak
Malaking tulong po ito para sa kapatid ko. Salamat po more power.
Sobrang ganda ng app nato mommy lalo na at tutok sila ngayon sa gadget madalas din kasing di natin nasusubaybayan ang mga pinapanood ng mga anak natin. Very helpful ito para sa mga anak natin
Ang ganda naman ng features ng Apps nito ma, napapanahon ngayon dahil maraming issues regarding online child sexual exploitation sa ating bansa.
#VoiceForChange
Gandang app ito momi lalo n ang nga bata ngayon mas nkatutok sa gadget kya pra ito sa safety nila..
Big help ito pra sa ating kids, always have limitations pa dn ang kids
This is a good apps,especially for kids and teen agers,,This really helps a lot for kids limitations in using internet to bad apps and comments.
Worth sharing and very helpful talaga itong app na ito momi esp sa mga kids even mga teenagers sila kasi ang madalas sa online platforms at madalas busy tayo sa mga bagay bagay malaking tulong itong app na ito para maprotektahan ang mga kids natin sa mga sexual activities at sa mga iba pang di magandang activities na makakasama sa kanilang pagiisip habang lumalaki at para may limitasyon din sila
Very helpful nitong apps nato momsh for secured narin Po..
This is good to us and to our children.
With good guidance and limitations to them too .
Magandang advocacy ito para SA ikakasafety at secured ang maga Bata . Lalo na ngayon nagkalat mga masasamang Tao .. stop child exploitation
Napaka ganda nitong Apps mommy talaga naman napaka laking tulong nito para sa atin at mga anak natin,very helpful at talaga naman dagdag kaalaman ang hatid nito para sa atin
mainan na meron nang ganito para naman maging safe environment pa rin ang social media para sa mga bata lalo’t di naman natin mamomonitor ang screen time ng ating mga anak 24/7.
Buti nlang at meron na nito. Malaking tulong ito sa ating mga nanay na kahit hindi natin sila nababantayan secure sila sa mga bagay na di dpat nila mapanoo
Ang gandang app nito napapanhon para mabantayan natina ang ating mga anak lalo n laganap ngayon ang social bullying
Marami na pong nababalita sa TV o iba pang social media platforms tungkol sa child exploitation / child pornography at iba pang masasamang activities na involved ang mga kabataan online. At talagang nakababahala po talaga ito lalo na sa ating mga magulang.
Sobrang laking tulong po nitong Voice for Change app upang mabantayan natin ang ating mga anak at mailayo sila sa kapahamakang dulot ng internet .. Para maging panatag tayo kahit hindi natin sila nakikita o namomonitor ..
big help po itong apps na to para sa mga kabataan❤️ thanks for sharing mami❤️❤️
Ang ganda ng apps na to. Napaka ganda ng advocacy para sa mga kids natin, lalo na kung mahilig talaga sila sa soc.med. maiiwasan ang harrassment, magging safe at secure sila.