Insider Spotlight
The move underscores how tech platforms increasingly tap young users not just as audiences, but as co-creators of safety frameworks—especially as concerns over teen well-being online intensify.
The big picture
TikTok named four youth advocates—Rinoa, Shantel, Marianne, and Kathleen—as the first teen members of the #ThinkTwice Troop, marking a shift toward more participatory digital governance.
"Safety has always been at the core of everything we do at TikTok," Yves Gonzalez, head of public policy for the Philippines at TikTok, said in a press statement.
"Expanding the #ThinkTwice Troop through our partnership with Plan International Pilipinas allows us to directly engage with more young people, understand their aspirations and challenges, and empower them to navigate digital spaces safely with confidence and creativity," Gonzalez added.
Zoom in
During a youth panel, advocates said they feel more confident engaging online when equipped with knowledge about privacy tools and safety features.
They also highlighted TikTok as a space for self-expression and discovery, reinforcing the platform’s positioning as a positive digital community for teens.
"Teen-friendly and easy-to-understand policies, user-friendly tools, insights from the youth--these are just some of the aspects that are vital for platforms to understand and apply in creating safer environments for us," said Marianne.
The initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to strengthen youth protections amid rising global scrutiny of social media platforms.
What they're saying
"We believe that young people, especially girls, face distinct vulnerabilities in the digital world, and must be at the heart of conversations that determine how online spaces are designed and governed," said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, executive director of Plan International Pilipinas.
Between the lines
The collaboration also reflects a broader stakeholder approach, bringing together educators, telecom leaders, and content creators to reinforce digital literacy and safety.
TikTok says it will continue evolving safety tools and programs while working with communities and institutions—signaling that youth-led input will play a larger role in shaping the platform’s policies going forward. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
