Therese San Diego Torres, president of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), served as guest speaker at the 9th Communication Research Conference of the University of Caloocan City on February 27, 2026.

With the theme, “COMM to Think of It: The Dynamics of Participation and Social Practices in Shaping Communication and Norms in the Digital Era,” the conference gathered student researchers to discuss how digital participation shapes communication today. Torres’ talk, “Feeding the Feed: Cultivating Ethical Norms in Digital Participation,” examined how everyday online behavior influences digital culture.

Torres asked participants to reflect on their own online habits, whether they actively post on social media platforms or scroll silently. Either way, she noted, everyone feeds the digital ecosystem. “Every scroll, pause, like, repost, and comment shapes what people see, absorb, and normalize,” Torres noted.

Her key message: digital participation is not neutral. Platforms amplify behaviors, which can either promote dialogue and credible information, or fuel misinformation, disinformation, exclusion, and ragebait-driven content. Torres urged users to think about the kind of online environment their actions help create.

She ended with a practical reminder: pause before posting or sharing. By practicing reflection, responsibility, transparency, and respect online, individuals can help shape healthier digital communities one interaction at a time.

This perspective aligns with Torres’ recent engagement in global discussions on digital ethics, security, and gender equality. In January 2025, she participated in UNESCO’s consultation that produced Reclaiming the Digital Space: Advancing Gender Equality in the Age of New Technologies (Vialle, 2025). The report highlights the dual role of digital platforms: amplifying marginalized voices while also spreading harmful, misogynistic content through engagement-driven algorithms. It offers 30 recommendations to advance gender equality and uphold ethics in media, technology, and AI. The document has become a resource AIJC draws on in its work and advocacy.