Following a 17-hour downtime, the Angelite Freedom Wall (AFW) resurfaced and refuted connection to the alleged mass email sent to various student groups which announced the permanent deletion of the page on July 13.

In a Facebook post, AFW administrators claimed that they do not use Gmail and that the halt was caused by Facebook flagging the page.

Sent at approximately 1:53 a.m., the mass email sent to student groups reported that AFW was originally created to provide a space for anonymous student expression. However, the scale and speed of submissions soon became “unmanageable” for the three-person team juggling work responsibilities.

It further cited the spread of unfiltered submissions, namedrops, and non-consensual photo uploads, including those of minors as reasons for the shutdown of the page.

They described the page’s trajectory as shifting from a space for expressing student concerns into one dominated by “meme content,” and eventually became “more unrestrained and offensive.”

Despite implementing post submission rules, the administrators presumably admitted through the email that numerous submissions containing personal attacks, potentially libelous content, and unverified allegations still bypassed their filters.

Beyond content moderation concerns, they addressed the page’s recurring criticisms of student leaders, describing them as expressions of student grievances. 

“Para sa mga student-leaders na nasama sa puksaan, pasensiya na at binoboses lamang namin ang mga hinaing ng mga students,” the message read. 

Stating that AFW’s shutdown should prompt more “humane and responsive leadership,” the assumed page moderators called on student leaders to reflect on their roles in addressing student concerns. 

“Sana maging rason ito para sainyo na kahit wala nang Freedom Wall, kayo mismo ay maging maayos at makatao sa pag-lead ng student body,” the admins reportedly wrote. 

They further called on officers to move beyond “symbolic leadership” and become active agents of student representation.

Since its creation, the page reportedly amassed over 12 million views, with submissions ranging from anonymous confessions and student grievances to allegations of harassment.

Post involving minors draws flak

Among the incidents that contributed to the page’s shutdown was a post on July 12 that included a non-consensual photo of grade 7 students, accompanied by derogatory remarks about their presence on campus.

“Awa nalang talaga oh jusko ginawa nilang palengke pls balik na kayo sa canteen niyo anlake lake doon, san kami lulugar?” the caption read.

In an interview, Elijah Lacra, the older brother of one of the students in the photo, shared that he messaged the page to request the post’s removal, citing emotional harm and his brother’s status as a minor and newcomer.

“Bukod sa minor, newcomer kapatid ko and ganyan siya trineat ng community, which might affect my brother emotionally. ‘Di rin natin masabi anong pwede mangyari eh,” Lacra said.

Screenshots of the exchange between Lacra and an AFW admin showed an initially dismissive tone.

When asked to take down the post, the admin responded, “Delete namin ’yan? You’re so magulo bestie,” followed by, “Toxic much?” and “Kung umpisa pa lang ganyan na agad ugali mo, hindi ka namin susundin, hindi mo kami uutusan.”

In his message to AFW, Lacra explained that his reaction stemmed from the public ridicule directed at his younger brother, stressing that no one should be subjected to online mockery for entertainment.

The admins later confirmed that there had been multiple instances of photos involving minors being uploaded without consent, though they claimed such posts were eventually taken down.

“Girlypop, we’ve had many other submissions that involved minors without their consent… yes, it was one of us who posted it without further filtering but we take actions as soon as we receive complaints and requests,” they remarked.

These acknowledgments underscored the page’s vulnerability to violations of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, and child protection laws. 

USC responds to AFW shutdown

HAU – University Student Council (HAU-USC) President Adonis Cayanan confirmed in an interview that the council received the alleged mass email sent by AFW, though no official reply was issued. 

“We were shocked, the AFW page had been widely discussed within the university community, so its sudden disappearance definitely came as a surprise,” Cayanan expressed.

Cayanan shared that the HAU-USC had already been in communication with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) even before the shutdown, citing apprehensions over the unmoderated and often harmful content published on the platform. 

According to Cayanan, they “recognized that while it served as a platform for free expression, it had also become a space where some students experienced online harassment and bullying.”

In response to such issues, the council encourages students to utilize established institutional mechanisms, including the grievance desk and respective college student councils (CSCs), to voice their concerns. 

The HAU-USC president added that the council ensures to address any matter within their scope as urgently as possible.

He also affirmed the USC’s position regarding similar platforms that may emerge in the future.

“If a similar platform emerges with the same issues, the USC will not support it, we will continue to advocate for safe, respectful, and inclusive student spaces—both online and offline,” he stated.

As of writing, no formal university investigation has been announced regarding the posts involving minors.

The OSA has yet to give an official statement or course of action to address the issue.