Blanket socmed ban for minors hard to enforce – group

MANILA, Philippines — A blanket ban on minors’ access to social media could be difficult to enforce and vulnerable to circumvention, according to a consumer advocacy group.

Congress should instead pursue “balanced, proportionate regulation” that protects children while preserving access to the benefits of the digital economy, CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor Kit Belmonte said yesterday.

While concerns over cyberbullying, online predators, addiction and harmful content deserve urgent action, Belmonte said there is a need for caution against imposing broad prohibitions.

Young internet users can use virtual private networks, create false adult identities or shift to private messaging apps, gaming chats and offshore platforms that may have weaker safeguards or less transparent moderation systems, he noted.

“If access is restricted on mainstream platforms, some may simply migrate to channels that are harder for parents, platforms and regulators to monitor,” Belmonte said.

“That may risk displacing harm rather than reducing it,” he added.

Several bills in Congress are seeking varying degrees of restrictions on minors’ use of social media, with some proposals requiring age verification and others imposing outright bans below certain age thresholds.