The Philippines is preparing to limit social media use among children and youth after multiple school violence incidents, aiming to block harmful online content, including extremist groups trying to lure or recruit children.
Members of the Philippine House of Representatives are pushing a bill to ban social media use by children under 13, while a Senate bill proposes extending restrictions to those under 16.
These measures come amid concerns over children’s safety in schools following youth-involved violence in the Philippines, with officials questioning the influence of online content.
Concerns arise that social media may be a channel for luring children.
Juan Edgardo Angara, the Philippine Education Secretary, stated last month that negative influences from the online world may be among the factors linked to youth violence incidents.
Officials worry that children and teenagers could be influenced by harmful content, websites, or online communities with violent ideologies, including groups that try to lure children and terrorist organizations using online platforms to recruit youth.
Under the proposed legislation, social media platforms must implement systems to verify users’ age and identity, proactively closing accounts of underage users.
Platforms repeatedly violating these rules could face fines up to 50 million Philippine pesos (about 820,000 U.S. dollars) or, in severe cases, permanent bans from operating in the country.
Experts warn that a "social media ban" might push children into darker online spaces.
However, cybersecurity and mental health experts caution that a blanket ban on children's social media use could backfire and worsen the problem.
Some experts believe that if children are cut off from major platforms, they might turn to smaller, harder-to-monitor websites or online communities, making parental and official oversight more difficult.
Psychologist Pijai Bengwasan, a board member of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, sees the ban potentially punishing the very groups the government aims to protect, rather than addressing root causes.
Experts suggest social media platforms enhance detection, reporting, and removal of harmful content, and develop systems to quickly identify those attempting to lure or recruit children into extremist groups.
Philippine school shooting sparks major concerns.
Concerns over online influence intensified after a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on 22 June, when students aged 14 and 15 opened fire, killing three and injuring 20 others.
The incident caused fear among students and parents as school violence is rare in the Philippines.
Cybersecurity experts also warn that online games and social media platforms are being used to recruit youth into extremist groups.
One such group under scrutiny is known as "764," linked to recruiting a student who committed the Tacloban shooting.
Louis Angelo Talatala from the cyber safety advocacy group Deep Web Konek said such groups may aim to exert influence over others and incite members to commit violence or harm others following the group’s ideology.
Nevertheless, psychologists caution that exposure to violent online content alone does not fully explain children’s violent behavior.
Some aggressive children may already face problems at home, school, or mental health issues, so social media restrictions alone may not effectively address the core issues.
Experts call on the government to increase the number of school counselors and mental health professionals, to improve children’s access to help, and encourage parents to monitor unusual behavior and set appropriate internet usage boundaries.
Psychologists emphasize that talking with children at the first signs of aggressive or concerning behavior is crucial, as setting clear boundaries early helps children understand which behaviors are unacceptable.
. Source:channelnewsasia
Click to read related news aboutInternational News