Smart, Kagay-anon content creators team up, promoting safe spaces online

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) supported the blogging workshop organized by the Cagayan de Oro (CDO)-based, CDO Content Creators’ Club, in partnership with SM CDO Downtown Premiere, to level up the skills of entrepreneurs, aspiring content creators, and social media managers.

Smart Mindanao Relations Head Judee Chaves shared, “Internet safety and digital literacy are among our main advocacies, so we wanted to support this workshop to help entrepreneurs and content creators stay safe online. Maintaining social media presence is becoming even more crucial for businesses, and we hope they will be able to apply these tips on online security."

Pushing for a solid Kagay-anon community of local content creators that would work together to promote local businesses and tourism, CDO Content Creators’ Club brought in experts to share about social media management and creating relevant and engaging content. Smart fielded Elijah Chito Mendoza, Digital Communications Senior Manager for PLDT and Smart, to discuss social media security, including how to protect social media assets, using secure passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Vlogger Jelf Aquino, who is behind the popular social media page Katawa CDO Doodzkie, appreciated the reminders on the importance of cybersecurity. He said, “Importante sa ato mga content creators or social media users ang cybersecurity. Akong Facebook page atong una naay kapin sa 20,000 ka followers, pero nahack lang. Nagbuhat na lang mi ug bag-o kay dili na marecover. Karon, ginasigurado na namo nga protektado ang mga accounts arun dili pod masayang among hago." (Cybersecurity is relevant for content creators and all social media users. My first Facebook page, with more than 20,000 followers, was hacked and I had to create another one. Now, I am making sure that all my accounts are well-protected so as not to put my hard work to waste.)

This initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s livelihood program, EbizNovation, which helps business owners and digital creators, boosting their know-how on content creation and cybersecurity. These form part of the Group’s commitment to helping the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), including UN SDG No. 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth.