One of the grandest events in the Philippines is upon us this January. Cebu City’s the Sinulog Festival will surely gather millions of spectators and visitors from all over the world to join and witness the country’s biggest celebration of the child Jesus, Santo Niño.

How to be social media-safe and ready for Sinulog Festival in Cebu

With the vast amount of people going outdoors to watch the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 20, social media can be very useful in sharing the current situation and on-going happening on location. With that said, everyone must be careful with the information being shared on social media.

Social Media-Ready

To make this discussion clearer, here are basic tips on how to be social media-ready for the Sinulog Festival in Cebu:

Be vigilant with and be sensitive to emergency situations

There are many possibilities that unforeseen events might happen during the Sinulog Festival and other big events: vehicular accidents, house fires, children missing, public riot and misdemeanor, heavy traffic, or even death. Report these incidents to corresponding authorities on social media and let your friends share the information to reach them fast.

Be responsive to others in time of need

At times that there are other people who are in need of information like directions, contacts and other details. If you are connected on the Internet, search for answers online and provide them what they need. The information is available on social media like Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter. A little tap on your screen will get a long way to provide assistance to other people.

Share responsively and appropriately

You can search via online emergency contact numbers. Through social media, you can easily disseminate information responsively and appropriately. For the Sinulog Grand Parade, it is very important to keep emergency contact numbers on hand for you to share on the Internet. Here are some contact details you might need during the public event:

Socia Media-Safe

Social media has grown in popularity over the years, with one site turning into two and now hundreds of options for sharing your thoughts, photos, and videos and for interacting with friends and family.

The more it grows, the more we discover about the do’s and don’ts of social media. The same rules apply to all social media playgrounds, regardless of which site is your favorite. Let’s take a look at some best practices for engaging in responsible social media use and best practices for social site safety.

Put people first

You won’t agree with everything or everyone you encounter on social media networks, but treat each person with dignity and respect. The Golden Rule of treating others how you want to be treated is a good practice.

Prioritize safety

Do not turn to social media as a way to harass, demean or bully someone else. Sitting in front of a computer screen does not give you license to embarrass, intimidate or spread hurtful rumors about others.

Protect yourself

Whether you’re concerned with maintaining good friendships or future job prospects, be responsible in what you post and how it could affect your reputation. Many employers now check up on job candidates’ social media accounts for evidence of bad behavior.

ALSO READ: A Call For A Responsible Blogging: A Fair Information Drive through Social Media

The #makeITsafePH Campaign

Hootsuite, a US-based social media management platform, has released its “Digital in 2018” report on social media and digital trends around the world. The report revealed that the Philippines now has 67 million Internet users, with all of them active on social media. This widespread use of the internet gives rise to the emergence of internet-related crimes such as rape, theft, bullying, and piracy which made the public, especially the youth, very vulnerable.

Because of this, Globe Telecom, being a purveyor of the digital lifestyle, came out with the #makeITsafePH cybersecurity and cyber-wellness campaign to educate consumers about online threats and what they can do to avoid becoming a victim. The campaign also teaches the public proper online etiquette so that they would not become a source of such deplorable behavior.