The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) expressed support on Monday for a proposed bill aimed at regulating minors’ access to social media, viewing it as a crucial step in safeguarding Filipino youth from online threats such as cyberbullying, scams, and sexual exploitation.
In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas, CWC Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales welcomed legislative efforts to enhance online safety but emphasized the need for lawmakers to balance children’s right to protection with their right to information and participation. “Malaki ang maitutulong nitong panukalang batas para protektahan ang mga bata laban sa (This bill would be a big help in protecting children against) cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation, at misinformation,” he stated.
However, Tapales raised concerns about reports suggesting a total ban on minors’ access to social media, arguing that not all children should be blocked from these platforms, especially when used for educational and civic purposes. “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 (So that’s where we have some proposed revisions because I don’t think that all minors need to be banned),” he explained.
Senator Panfilo Lacson recently proposed “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors,” which seeks to prohibit individuals under 18 from accessing social media, citing links between excessive use and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and online harassment.
Tapales emphasized the importance of aligning the bill with existing child protection laws and promoting digital literacy among parents and children. He also urged social media companies to implement stricter age verification and safety-by-design features. “I think it’s a matter of balancing maganda po yung bill, but yan nga (the bill is good but) we have to balance it with the right to participate in information ng mga bata,” he added.
He highlighted alarming statistics from the Department of Education and cyber tip lines, indicating high rates of cyberbullying and online exploitation. A 2022 study revealed that 95 percent of Filipino children aged 12 to 17 are online, with an estimated 2 million exposed to online sexual abuse in 2021 alone.
Tapales stressed the need for parental involvement, stating, “Parents should be the first line of defense.” He also encouraged social media companies to adopt clear content moderation rules to prevent the exploitation of children for profit and urged reporting of suspicious activity via the Makabata Helpline 1383, along with ongoing education on safe internet practices.