MATERIAL SELF

A person's tangible possessions like his or her car, house, clothes, even family and friends make
up his or her material self. Regardless of how much or how little a person owns materially, he or
she will always strive to acquire more because material possessions are usually a reflection of a
person's success or failure.

This chapter begins with a description of the material self and the components of the material
self. The motives for acquiring material possessions are explained, as well as the key roles that
media can play in a person's desire to acquire material possessions.

Material Self

According to William James (1980, p. 291), the self is everything that an individual considers to
be his or hers, not only his or her body and material possessions but also his or her reputation and
beliefs. The self, therefore, is composed of the material self which is the manifestation of one's
identity through his material possessions.

The basic component of the material self includes the body. One of the tasks of adolescents is to
accept and appreciate the physical characteristics of their body. However, few adolescents are
able to do this successfully. Adolescents tend to worry about their bodies and physical
appearance, Generally, girls are more concerned about the appearance of their body than boys.
Perceptions about what makes a body beautiful are usually influenced by the media as shown in
television and the internet.

Another component of the material self is the clothes that people wear. Clothes represent the self.
The style and brand of clothes become significant symbols, particularly among adolescents.

The clothes they tend to wear are greatly influenced by their peer groups because adolescents are anxious
to conform to what their peer groups find fashionable and attractive.

Apart from clothes, the material component of the self can include one's house, car, pets, and other things
that he or she considers as his or her possession. The material component of the self also includes people
an individual has relationships with such as one's immediate and extended family members as well as
close friends with whom one feels psychologically connected. These people are likely to shape and
influence the development of one's self and identity. Pets could also symbolically define a person's
identity. A person's pet could be an expression of one's social status, pride, and prestige, as in owning a
dog or cat of a very expensive breed.

The Role of Material Possessions on the Sense of Self and Identity

Regardless of how much or how little material possessions people have, they remain valuable because
these possessions are symbolic of one's social status. Cars, houses, gadgets, and clothes are to some the
most valuable possessions because they are the most visible in the eyes of others. The more expensive
they are, the more other people are impressed. Russell Belk (1988) in his work Are We What We Own?,
suggests that material possessions act as an objective manifestation of the self. Material possessions can
be a reflection of hard work and success. Normally, people tend to measure success through the amount
of their material possessions. Owning material possessions becomes a driving force in urging an
individual to seek high level of achievement in order to be able to acquire more possessions.

Defining the self by material possessions can also contribute to a feeling of well-being, including a sense
of personal growth and purpose or meaning in life. However, the lack or loss of material possessions can
be disruptive to one's mental health, like people losing their houses and other possessions because of
disasters and calamities.

People tend to judge others through their material possessions. Thus, the greater the material possessions,
the more likely one will be accepted and regarded well by other people. The important point is that these
components of the material self become a significant reference of one's sense of self and identity.

However, the desire for material possessions also have negative effects on one's sense of self and identity.
Materialism refers to giving more importance to material possessions than intangible values. A
materialistic person is one who is excessively concerned with the acquisition of material possessions. The
strong desire for material possessions could lead to psychological dysfunction or impairment in
functioning such as compulsive buying disorder (CBD) which is characterized by an obsession with
shopping and buying behaviors that can cause adverse consequences (e.g., debts).

Developmental evidence suggests that identification with material things begins quite early in life but
remains high throughout life as people seek for happiness (Belk, 1988). Nevertheless, psychologists
identify other social and cultural factors that seem to be strongly implicated in the etiology of
materialism. People are exposed to images in television, the internet, and magazines that brag about the
importance of material possessions such as branded clothes, mobile phones, cars, and the like. Lack or
loss of these material possessions could lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression in people who are
overly materialistic. Thus, when a person is about to make a purchase, he or she should ask himself or
herself a very important question: DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

Consumer Culture

Consumer culture is a social system in which consumption is dominated by the consumption of

commercial products (Arnould, 2010). Consumer culture denotes a social arrangement in which the
relations between lived culture and social resources, and between meaningful ways of life and the
symbolic and material resources on which they depend on, are mediated through markets. The
consumption of market-made commodities and desire-inducing marketing symbols is central to consumer
culture (Arnould & Craig, 2005). A consumerist society is one in which people spend a great deal of time,
money, and energy to "consume" commercial products, goods, and services. Consumerism is the
consumption of material goods and services in excess of one's basic needs. Consumerism is closely tied to
materialism. Both heavily influence the way individuals view the self. It can be viewed positively and
negatively. For instance, people tend to be happier and more motivated when their wants and needs are
met. On the other hand, it encourages people to buy products and services that they do not really need or
afford. The state of needs and wants tends to be endless, and thus could cause negative effects such as
dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and depression.

SPIRITUAL SELF
At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of the spiritual self;

explain the importance of spirituality in one's life;
discuss how spirituality is connected to religion;
describe how spirituality develops; and
analyze how spirituality animism are associated.

Spirituality influences the individual through acts of faith, hope, and love. This chapter provides an
overview of spirituality and religion. It also includes topics on the practice of animism.

[The Spiritual Self]

The spiritual aspect of the self is the inner essence, the part of the self that connects the person to the
sacred, the supernatural, and the universe. The spiritual self enables the person to experience a feeling
of oneness with a higher being and the universe and gives a deeper purpose or meaning of one's life.
Understanding and nurturing the spiritual self is as important as with the other aspects of the self. The
spiritual self develops through interaction, observation, and imitation. The family, school, and church
play a very important role in a child's spiritual development. Spirituality begins at an early age but
develops throughout life as people continuously interact in the environment.

[Spirituality]

The root meaning of spirituality is taken from the Latin word spiritus, meaning breath or life force.
Spirituality can be understood as the search for the sacred, a process through which people seek to
discover, hold on to, and, when necessary, transform whatever they hold sacred in their lives (Hill &
Pargament, 2003). Spirituality generally refers to meaning and purpose in one's life, a search for
wholeness, and a relationship with a transcendent being (Hage, Hopson, Siegel, Payton, & DeFanti,
2006). The sacred transcendence could refer to a higher being

The term "spirituality" originally developed in early Christianity.

Christians use the term "Spirit" to describe the Holy Spirit. In Christian Ethics, Peschke (1994) describes
that the experience of the sacred is characterized by reverence, faith, fear, trust, love, and admiration
which are intimately connected to God. Worship is regarded as an essential act to realize the ultimate
meaning of transcendence and human life. Acts of worship may include prayer, reading the Bible,
attending sacraments, and doing sacrifices. In addition, through acts of faith, hope, and love, man is able
to encounter God and understand God's words of salvation.

Spirituality is connected with religion. Religion is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere
or the supernatural along with associated ceremonial practices by which people try to interpret and/or
influence aspects of the universe otherwise beyond their control. All religions recognize the importance
of spirituality in one's life. One's spirituality may be expressed through religion and participation in
religious rituals and ceremonies (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, & McBride, 2013). Spirituality and religion
fulfill numerous social and psychological needs, such as the need to explain human sufferings and death.
Through the practice of religious activities such as prayers, people may find comfort, security, and
stability in times of sufferings, loss, insecurities, and uncertainties. Spirituality and religion may be a
source of love, hope, and affection (Brown & Parrish, 2011).

[Search for the Meaning of Life]

In his book Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl begins by sharing his personal experiences in the
Nazi concentration camp. He explains how a prisoner passes through three major phases in the
concentration camp, and how each phase transformed the prisoners from their previous lives to a new
one and how they developed various pathologies. The prisoner was first in a state of shock, which was
followed by the phase of developing apathy, and lastly, the psychology of the prisoner after liberation.
Apathy is the blunting of the emotions and the feeling that one could not care anymore. It is a protective
shell from the brutalities in the camp. During the last phase, the prisoners experienced
depersonalization or a state in which everything seemed unreal, unlikely, as in a dream.

Frankl's personal experiences in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II led him to develop
the basic tenets of logotherapy, which were tested and found valid even amid all the dark forces in
human existence. Frankl embraced both the bright and dark sides of human existence and believed that
inevitable human suffering could contribute to human achievement and the search of meaning in life.
Logotherapy is the pursuit of human existence as well as on man's search for such a meaning. According
to logotherapy, the striving to find a meaning in one's life is the primary motivational force in man. In
logotherapy, one can discover the meaning of life in three different ways: by doing a deed, by
experiencing a value, and by suffering.

In doing a deed, the way of finding meaning in life is through achievements or accomplishments. The
second way of finding meaning in life is by experiencing something or someone, such as loving a person.
Frankl elaborates that love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his or
her personality. No one can become fully aware of the essence of another human being unless he or she
loves him or her. By his or her love, he or she is enabled to see the essential traits and features of the
beloved person. Thus, he imparts that the salvation of man is through love and in love. Love finds its
deepest meaning in one's spiritual being the inner self.

The third way of finding a meaning in life is by suffering. According to Frankl, it is through sufferings that
man encounter the central theme of existentialism: to live is to suffer, to survive is to find meaning in
the suffering. If there is purpose in life at all, there must be a purpose in suffering and in dying. But no
one can tell another what this purpose is. Each one must find out for himself or herself, and must accept
the responsibility that his or her answers prescribe. If he or she succeeds, he or she will continue to
grow in spite of all indignities. Thus, Frankl is fond of quoting Nietzsche, "He who has a why to live can
bear almost any how."

Frankl further suggests that one should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his or
her own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that
demands fulfillment. Ultimately, one should not ask what the meaning of his or her life is, but rather
must recognize that it is he or she who is asked. In a word, each individual is questioned by life; and he
or she can only answer to life by answering for his or her own life; to life he or she can only respond by
being responsible.

[The Practice of Animism]

Spirituality is also associated with animism. Beliefs about the sacred also include the primitive concept
about animism or the belief that creatures, objects, and places possess certain spirits. Animism is also
the belief that things and places are alive and grounded by a supernatural order. In the Philippines,
indigenous peoples are known to practice animism. Some groups, for example, believe that the spirits of
the sun, sky, and moon are their gods and that different deities exist to protect them and guide them
toward a fruitful life. Others believe that spirits inhabit animals and nature such as trees, rocks,
mountains, and bodies of water, among others, and that respect must be given to them through acts of
worship (e.g., offerings, prayers, sacrifices) to please or appease them. Being linked with folk belief,
animism cultivates among people a consciousness of the environment that they are in, thus making
them more mindful of how they act according to the different things they come in contact with.

---------END----------

POLITICAL SELF
At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

describe the nature, functions, and origins of political self;

discuss the role of family, school, church, peer groups, and media in the development of political self;
determine the importance of social interaction in developing the political self; and
identify and describe the theoretical perspectives in the development of political self.

The hierarchical structure of the family influences the political self through the obligations and
expectations associated with one's role as a member of the family and the power and status related
with one's position in the family. An important prelude to the study of political self is understanding the
concept of politics. Hence, this chapter begins with defining politics. It includes concepts on political
community, socialization, social interaction, and citizenship. It also defines political self and describes
the influence of family, school, church, peers, and media on the development of political self. The
chapter ends with descriptions of the theoretical perspectives of political self.

[Understanding Politics]

Kendall (1998) defines politics as a social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by
people and groups. In Aristotle's work, Politics, he describes the role that politics and the political
community must play in bringing about the virtuous life in the citizenry. He observes that "man is by
nature a political animal." Politics is an important part of human development because it promotes
ideologies about democracy, citizenship, human rights, freedom, family, health, and other social issues.
Politics exists in all human societies. It serves as the mechanism by which individuals develop power and
understand proper functioning of a democratic society as a citizen. Citizenship is the most basic
identification with the nation. The term denotes the membership of a citizen in a political society. As a
citizen, a person enjoys full civil and political rights, including protection inside and outside the territory
of the state.

Stevens, Anglin, and Jussim (2015) cite that in some people, politics is a central component of their
identity. For others, politics may be a more peripheral concern but temporarily becomes a central one in
certain situations. The political community where people belong offers an opportunity for them to
define themselves and provide opportunities to satisfy their needs for affiliation. The political self
organizes one's beliefs, attitudes, and affiliations and aids in the processing of politically relevant
information. People use their political values and belief systems to define themselves as unique
individuals of society.

[Political Self and Identity]

As an essential part of the self, the political self organizes self- relevant information about politics. It
constitutes knowledge about the Constitution, government, and governance. The political self helps in
defining the structure and functions of the government, in telling and understanding the relationship
between the state and the citizens, and in describing their rights, freedom, and obligations as citizens.
The political self exemplifies the ideals and aspirations of the people, embodies the rules and principles
of the State, and determines the status and power of the people.

One important component of political self is identity, the person's understanding of who and what he or
she is. Citizenship becomes a salient basis for political self. The political self is often defined by
citizenship. In her book, Democracy and Citizenship, Ma. Serena Diokno (1997) mentions that citizenship
is the most basic identification with the nation and, as such, is oriented towards the state and its
expressions in law and policy. From the social and psychological perspectives, the individual's claim to
citizenship means that the person relates himself or herself to a group of others who also see
themselves as citizens of a larger polity. The institutions which influence the values of citizenship are the
family, church, school, media, government, and non-governmental organizations. As such, the political
self is also in part defined by reference to other members in the political group or community where one
belongs.
The value component of identity construction is shaped by societal agencies that enter the life of the
individual from childhood all the way through adulthood (Diokno, 1997). The political self and identity
are developed through socialization, through the ways people learn the knowledge, norms, values,
motives, and roles appropriate to their positions in a group or community. Social interaction may
significantly influence a person's understanding of politics, and perhaps a person's political actions in the
future. Through social interaction, people learn the status, duties, rights, and power necessary to
interact successfully with other people in the group or community. Over time, individuals internalize the
political attitudes, values, and views of others, and incorporate them into their political self. Throughout
life, as individuals meet new people and join new groups, the political self is influenced and modified by
the opinions, comments, and suggestions of other people.

The Origins of Political Self

The family has a hierarchical structure which requires each member to perform his or her role. Each
position carries a set of rights, responsibilities, and expectations. Through the hierarchy of positions,
status and power are ascribed. The family consists of members who differ in status, obligations,
influence, or power. Traditionally, the father is the most influential member of the family. He acts as the
leader and establishes rules to maintain order in the family. His role as the leader entails power and
authority. He coordinates with the mother in helping the children perform the roles necessary for a
successful family. From an early age, individuals are taught to obey and treat parents with respect and
conform to their rules.

This shows that authority is necessary in the development of the political self and identity, which is
established by the father and the mother. Children must be governed; thus, there must be some form of
established status and power in the family. The ordered positions and ascribed roles in the family
prepare children for several and higher roles external to the family, in the context of being a citizen of
the state. Aristotle considers the state as a natural union of families, established for the common good
under a definite government. Thus, the family makes the most contribution to the child's development
of political self.

The first and foremost duty of parents is to educate the children about basic values and beliefs. The
process of learning is imbued with values and beliefs through identification. Morality underlies political
values and beliefs. The family directly and indirectly influences a person's political attitudes, views, and
beliefs. The Philippine Constitution thus recognizes the duty and responsibility of parents to educate and
train their children to become good, useful, and worthy citizens of the country and to prepare them for
future responsibilities.

Equally, the Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital role of schools in inculcating among the youth
the value of patriotism and nationalism and in encouraging their involvement in public and civic affairs
of the country. While parents teach their children basic values and discipline, schools have the
responsibility in the formal education and training of children. One of the responsibilities of schools is to
teach moral, spiritual, and political values that will help the students to become patriotic and morally
upright citizens. The school has a similar structure to the family, with the teacher acting as the leader of
the group. In terms of the functionality of status and power, students will more likely comply with rules
in school because it entails serious and greater consequences.

The church also helps shape the ideals of citizenship and democracy through their religious teachings,
values, and traditions. Consequently, how the family, school, and church emphasize moral behaviors
may also influence political behaviors and the political self. On the other hand, peers are also important
in influencing the political self. The family and school consist of members who are different in status and
power. In peer groups, the members are equal in status. Thus, interaction with peers encompasses and
emphasizes the equal distribution of power, rights, and privileges among members of the group. Mass
media could also be a key source of information on politics, and thus may influence an individual's
political values and beliefs.

Theories of Political Self

According to the social learning theory, a person can acquire learning through observation and
imitation. In imitation, the learner watches the behavior of another person (model) and then performs
the behavior in a similar way. Observation and imitation are important in a process known as political
socialization, the lifelong process by which individuals gain knowledge about politics. In everyday life,
social interaction significantly influences a person's understanding of politics. Through the process of
identification, individuals (especially children and adolescents) incorporate the characteristics or traits as
well as the values, beliefs, and motives of the models (parents or significant people) they look up to.

Another theory in political self is the cognitive theory which suggests that the mental activities (e.g.,
knowledge, perceptions, ideas) of individuals are important determinants of behavior (e.g., political
attitudes). For example, individuals interpret the meaning of politics and then choose and decide the
actions they will make.

The theory of symbolic interaction suggests that behaviors are products of communication, meaning,
and symbols. People give meanings to symbols and they express these meanings through language and
communication. For example, children develop their political attitudes according to the symbols and
meanings that their parents communicate to them. Based on the symbols and meanings that people
ascribe to objects (e.g., politics, human rights, freedom), people can formulate plans of action (e.g.,
election, demonstrations, rally).

This recognizes the importance of the theory of political participation in political self. Political
participation can be defined as citizen's actions or activities anchored in politics. Thus, any activity
concerning the government or governance of the state is an example of political participation. The
extent and scope of political participation may be an important criteria for assessing the value or quality
of symbols and meanings that people ascribe to politics. Nonetheless, in order for political participation
to work in a society, a covenant of mutual trust and respect among members of the society must exist.
To sustain this covenant, there must be an open flow of communication and feedback from the
members. All members must also commit to and take responsibility for fostering and maintaining an
environment in which political participation can occur. For instance, ordinary Filipino citizens must be
allowed to take part in the policy and decision-making process regarding the administration of the
country which is in accordance to the democratic nature of the Philippine society.

DIGITAL SELF

At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

define digital self;

explain the role of mobile phones, internet, and social networking in developing the digital self;
identify the Filipino values of social networking;
explain the role of the government, school, and church in the prevention of identity theft, false
information, and fake news; and
describe the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

⚫
This chapter explains the concept of digital self and the importance of digital technology in human
activities. It also presents the implications of and the ethical issues involved in personal information
especially in social networks.

Digital Self

Among the Filipino youth, the use of digital technology has now become part of the self-the digital self.
The digital self is the aspect of the self that is expressed or shared with others through online
interactions on the internet, specifically in social networking sites. On such sites, users normally disclose
personal information such as their name, age, birthdate, address, and contact details. Some users also
provide very personal information about themselves such as their likes and dislikes, hobbies, favorite
food, favorite movies, places they have visited, relationship status, thoughts and feelings, and important
events in their lives. This sharing of personal information on social networking sites may be related to
the strong desire of adolescents for social approval and acceptance. Similar can be said about adults.

Self-Presentation and Impression Management

John DeLamater and Daniel Myers (2012) cite that the self is heavily influenced by feedback from others.
The impact of others whom people interact with depends upon the nature of one's relationship with
them. Interaction with significant others may be very influential to how one presents himself or herself
in a virtual space. The views of others through online interactions (social networking) are so important
that they become part of the self. Personal information that individuals disclose through online
interaction which others judge favorably through "liking" and "reacting" contribute to positive self-
concepts. Nevertheless, people try to present themselves in such a way to impress- that is, to create
positive impressions in the eyes of other people. Self presentation refers to an individual's attempts,
both conscious and unconscious, to control how he or she projects himself or herself in social
interactions. Some forms self-presentation may be authentic, but some may be tactical or selective.

Self-presentation is inherent in all situations. The widespread use of online interactions has increased
the opportunities to engage in self-presentation and impression management. Most people strive to
create images that are positive. Thus, individuals use several methods to create positive impressions of
them. Some individuals try to alter their appearances through what they post on social networking sites
such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by using photo editing tools. The desire to impress other
people on social media may lead to showing off one's work, achievements, and material possessions in a
virtual place.
Nevertheless, the desire to create positive impressions and to be "liked" by others may lead to
consequences that can be risky to one's security and mental health, such as identity theft, cyberbullying,
gossiping as well as anxiety and depression. Thus, individuals should be very careful with what they post
or share on social networking sites. People should still be mindful of their privacy using social
networking sites.

[Expression of Gender and Sexuality Online]

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines sexuality as the quality or state of being sexual while gender is
the psychological identification of a person as masculine or feminine. Both could affect not only how
people think about themselves but also their relationships with others and how others think of them as
well (Cicarelli & White, 2012). Individuals tend to be categorized based on their gender identities and
sexuality in different types of situations that are visible in different forms of media, especially social
media. The portrayal of male and female behaviors in media could affect the construction of appropriate
sexual behaviors of people, especially adolescents.

The internet and social networking sites provide channels for the dissemination of information, including
information about gender identity and sexuality. For this reason, better and accurate information is now
becoming available.

The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), for example, provides scientific knowledge on the
application of psychological theories, concepts, and principles on gender identity and sexual orientation
to benefit society and improve the lives of the members of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, +) community. In the PAP website, online resources and publications on LGBTQ+
issues, resources, and information addresses bias and discrimination issues. With the increasing urgency
to uphold human rights and to protect the dignity and equality of all persons of various sexual
orientations, a measure prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
or expression is developed. In particular, the Anti-Discrimination Act aims to protect the rights and
welfare of the LGBTQ+ people in the Philippines. The act recognizes the important role of
telecommunications and social media in protecting, particularly, the LGBTQ+ people from discriminatory
acts.

[The Importance of Digital Technology]

At present, the use of technology is essential for individual survival and for communication with other
people. Just as the use of technology is becoming important for individuals, it is also developing to be
important for the development of society. The Business Dictionary defines technology as the application
of information in the design, production, and utilization of goods and services, and in the organization of
human activities. There have been so many technological advancements over the past years. Technology
has changed the social features of people's lives. It has altered the way people view the social dimension
of relationships and dictated new ways for people to relate with one another. Advancements in
computer and software technologies have reached an impressive level. These technologies improve not
only very common areas of people's daily life, but also areas of education, health, and production
industries (Mishra, Misra, Mueller, Perez, Bhatia, & Wang, 2014).

Forms of technology such as digital technology include all types of electronic equipment and
applications that use information in the form of numeric codes. Digital technology includes the use of
devices that process and use digital information such as computers and mobile phones. Digital
technology has enabled volumes of information to be compressed in compact storage devices, so as to
be easily contained and delivered, minimizing the time it takes for data to be transmitted. Digital
technology has immensely changed the of working as well as the learning of new concepts, including
communication. Innovations in mobile phones, for example, resulted in the widespread use of the
internet and social networking

Impact of Online Interactions on the Self

The Philippines has the fastest growing internet population in Southeast Asia. This can be rooted to
majority of the Filipinos, particularly the youth, use the internet primarily for social networking which is
mostly used for communication, information, and entertainment (Estuar, 2003; Bristol, Caro,
Mangaliman, & Bernarte, 2013; Ignatius & Hechanova, 2014).

Iqbal, Khan, & Malik (2017) suggest that mobile phones are ever more becoming a very valuable part of
the daily life of today's youth. They allow the users to keep in touch, connect with people, and be
updated on the activities and whereabouts of others. However, the use of digital technology and online
interactions limit face-to-face interaction with others and has drawn people away from meaningful and
intimate communication with families and friends. Hence, the growing use of the internet and social
networking sites changes the social behaviors of individuals, families, and societies as a whole.

Hechanova and Ortega-Go find that the use of internet has both positive and negative outcomes. In
their study, the use of internet can improve one's relationships through easier ways of communicating.
Social networking can be an important facility for debates on current issues in the country such as
political issues. It can also be a facility to express the opinions, needs, and concerns of people. However,
it is also through social networking that identity theft, false information, and fake news are able to
circulate. Thus, the church, schools, and the government exert efforts to prevent and effectively manage
the spread of identity theft, false information, and fake news in the country.

Most users of social networking sites prefer to be anonymous may and sometimes use false names.
Privacy and confidentiality should be a major concern, especially for adolescents who may not be
entirely aware of the consequences of sharing private information online, for anyone to see. They
usually post pictures and videos of themselves, their friends, and family.

Thus, adolescents are particularly susceptible to cyberbullying, gossips, and stalking For this reason, the
government together with academic and even religious institution in the Philippines make efforts to
prevent and effectively manage the spread of identity theft, false information, and fake news in the
country.

[Data Privacy Act]

To protect the people from invasion of privacy, Republic Act 10173, otherwise known as the Data
Privacy Act of 2012 was passed in the Philippines. It act states that:

It is the policy of the State to protect the fundamental human right of privacy, of communication while
ensuring free flow of information to promote innovation and growth. The State recognizes the vital role
of information and communications technology in nation-building and its inherent obligation to ensure
that personal information in information and communications systems in the government and in the
private sector are secured and protected. Personal information in this context refers to any information,
whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the identity of an individual is apparent or can
be reasonably and directly ascertained by the entity holding the information, or when put together with
other information would directly and certainly identify an individual.