TikTok officially launched the #ThinkTwice Family Guide in the Philippines as part of its continued efforts to empower teens and families to navigate the digital world with greater confidence and awareness. 

Launched during the #ThinkTwice Troop Townhall in celebration of International Youth Day, the guide, which was created in partnership with Child Rights Coalition-Asia, Child Rights Network, and Plan International Pilipinas, includes conversation starters, reflection activities, digital safety tips, and information on TikTok tools and safety features that can support healthier online habits. Designed to complement TikTok's 50 pre-set  safety and privacy features for teens and its Family Pairing tools, the guide is accessed by searching “Think Twice" on TikTok; this will direct them to the #ThinkTwice Digital Check-In Hub where they can access and download the full Guide.

"For many families today, digital life is no longer separate from everyday life — it’s where young people learn, socialize, create, and discover who they are," said Yves Gonzalez, Public Policy Head for the Philippines at TikTok.  "That’s why building healthier digital habits requires more than rules alone. It requires open conversations, mutual understanding, and practical tools that families can explore together. Through the #ThinkTwice Family Guide, created in partnership with Child Rights Coalition-Asia, Child Rights Network, and Plan International Pilipinas, we hope to support Filipino families with practical resources that make those conversations feel more approachable and relevant."

TikTok's #ThinkTwice Family Guide is a valuable resource designed to help Filipino families navigate the digital world together. By listening to teens and working with the communities around them, families and stakeholders can help create a digital environment that is not only safer, but also more empowering and positive. "Young people are not merely recipients of protection. You are active participants in creating safer digital spaces. Your voices matter, and they should continue to inform our policies, programs, and initiatives that shape our digital experiences. “Digital parenting is not about knowing every application or monitoring every click. Hindi po sila [the parents] mga security guards or police ng digital spaces. Rather, it’s about building trust, maintaining open communication, and creating an environment where teens feel safe to ask questions, seek guidance, and report concerns," said Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Council for the Welfare of Children. 

Bringing Teens and Families to the Center of Digital Safety

In the panel discussion titled “Empowering Teens to Build Safer Digital Habits,” teen advocates Bea Vicente and Jhasper Galleza from Plan International Pilipinas, and Charles Dwayne Sicad from the Council for the Welfare of Children, shared their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of the digital world and what it means to navigate it safely and responsibly. 

Drawing from their own experiences and advocacy, the teen advocates highlighted the importance of giving young people the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions online, while ensuring that they have trusted adults and communities they can turn to when they encounter challenges.

After hearing the perspectives and insights of young people, the second panel discussion shifted toward adults and how families, the youth, and communities can be empowered to navigate the online space together. 

The segment brought together Sheila Estabillo, Program Manager, Plan International Pilipinas,  Amihan Abueva, Regional Executive Director, Child Rights Coalition Asia,  Dr. Francis Dimalanta, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, and a veteran television host, educator, and parent creator, Kuya Kim Atienza. The conversation explored how families can create the trust and communication young people need as they gain greater independence online.

Plan International Pilipinas emphasized that digital safety is not the responsibility of children or parents alone, but a shared responsibility across government, the private sector, communities, local governments, and families. "For parents,  our goal is not to become technology police. We don’t need to know every app or every trend. What matters more is becoming a trusted digital guide - someone your teen can turn to when something uncomfortable or confusing happens online," Estabillo explained. "Each of us has a role to play. Our ultimate goal here is not to remove teens from the digital environment, but to equip them with the necessary practical skills, so they can safely navigate the online environment safely, critically, and responsibly." 

Similarly, Child Rights Coalition Asia emphasized that building a strong foundation of trust and communication between parents and children is essential to helping young people navigate the digital world safely. "Building the link between the parent and the teen is something even before the digital conversation comes in. So, if you have developed a good relationship with your teen, where they feel comfortable, hopefully that extends when they enter the digital world,” said Abueva. 

Filipinos' parenting styles also continue to evolve as more young people spend more time in digital spaces. Atienza highlighted the importance of learning the language of today's young people in order to understand them.  "Teens nowadays are different. We just have to accept, as parents, that teens are different, and we have to speak their language," said Atienza. "We just have to listen without judging and meet them where they are. As we meet them where they are, we also have to learn their language. We will not be able to meet them where they are if we're not on social media." 

When asked about simple ways parents and teens can begin these conversations naturally, Dr. Dimalanta simplified it with the TEEN acronym, highlighting four practical reminders: Put Teens first; Establish daily routines, which he said has strong clinical backing because “adolescent sleep architecture is already vulnerable”;  establish Emotional regulation, recognizing that “when they are crying, you don’t tell them to stop crying”; be Now, or be present in the moment; and Spark a conversation, encouraging parents to create opportunities for open and natural dialogue.

Building healthier digital habits together

Teen accounts on TikTok have more than 50 different preset safety features and settings designed just for the safety and privacy of teens, including private accounts, content restrictions, and daily screen time limits set to 60 minutes. Knowing that every teen and family is different, the Family Digital Check-In Guide complements TikTok's Safety Center resources, including the Guardian's Guide and Teen Safety Center, to give Filipino families a localised tool that helps set positive digital boundaries together. 

Families can access and download the Family Digital Check-In Guide via the TikTok #ThinkTwice Digital Hub here. It is also accessible within the TikTok app, when users search for digital safety-related terms. 

Learn more about TikTok’s #ThinkTwice and digital safety initiatives here.