CWC pushes regulating social media use, opposes total ban for minors
Zion Mhar Kaezer Corpuz
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) expressed support on July 7 for a proposed Senate bill seeking to regulate minors’ access to social media, citing the growing risks of online threats faced by Filipino youth.
CWC Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales welcomed the legislative initiative, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard children from cyberbullying, online sexual abuse, exploitation, and digital misinformation.
“Malaki ang maitutulong nitong panukalang batas para protektahan ang mga bata laban sa cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation, at misinformation,” Tapales said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas.
The proposed measure, filed by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on July 2, seeks to impose stricter regulations on the digital activities of minors, including mechanisms for age verification and usage restrictions.
However, Tapales urged lawmakers to examine carefully the provision that suggests a total ban on social media access for minors, warning of its potential impact on children’s constitutional rights.
“I don't think kailangan silang i-ban, because at the end of the day, we are balancing the rights of children to child protection at yung right to participate naman nila to information na iginagalang po rin ng ating saligang batas,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of harmonizing the proposed bill with existing laws on child protection and highlighted the need to define the responsibilities of social media platforms in ensuring online safety for children.
The proposed regulation is the latest in a series of legislative moves responding to concerns over youth exposure to harmful content and digital exploitation, which have escalated alongside the increased use of online platforms during and after the pandemic.