President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is prepared to support proposals aimed at regulating the use of social media platforms among minors, particularly if such use negatively impacts their mental health, according to a statement from Malacañang on Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro commented on Senator Panfilo Lacson’s proposed measure, which seeks to regulate minors’ access to social media and online platforms to protect them from the harmful effects of overexposure.
“Kung ito po talaga ay magko-cause ng mental health issues, sususugan din po ng Pangulo iyan at makakakuha siya ng suporta basta po ito ay para sa taumbayan at lalung-lalo na para sa kabataan (If this will really cause mental health issues, the President will also support it and he will get support, as long as it is for the country and especially for the youth),” Castro stated.
She emphasized that Marcos is ready to back any proposals that “will be good for our countrymen, especially for the youth.”
Lacson’s bill addresses the growing concern over minors’ access to social media, citing studies that link excessive use to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation. According to a report from the Council for the Welfare of Children, one in every three children in the Philippines aged 0 to 18 uses the internet. The National ICT Household Survey further revealed that 60 percent of children aged 10 to 17 not only have internet access but are also active users.
Under Lacson’s proposed measure, minors would be prohibited from accessing or using social media services. Social media platforms would be required to take “reasonable steps and age verification measures” to prevent age-restricted users from registering, accessing, or continuing to use their services.
The bill also mandates that platform providers ensure that the data collected is “limited, secure, and retained only for the period necessary to fulfill its intended lawful purpose,” with users being “clearly informed of the purpose and scope of data collection, including their rights.”
