Lacson files bill seeking to regulate minors' use of social media
Sen. Ping Lacson has filed a bill regulating the use of social media platforms by minors to protect them from the harmful effects of overexposure.
Under the measure, children below 18 shall be restricted from accessing or using social media.
Meanwhile, social media platforms are obligated to adopt reliable means to ensure the age and identity of their users, remove age-restricted users, and create proper response mechanisms for reports or findings of minor users.
Platforms are also required to ensure the provisions of the Data Privacy Act are still followed. This includes keeping data collected "limited, secure, and retained only for the period necessary to fulfill its intended purpose."
Lacson, in the proposal, cited a UNICEF study on how Filipino children and adolescents are vulnerable to cyberbullying, body image pressures, and online harassment "because of social media exposure."
He also referred to the Council for the Welfare of Children, which reported that one in every three children in the Philippines uses the internet.
Additionally, he noted how countries like Australia have passed a law banning children under 16 from social media. France and some US states have also passed laws restricting access for minors without a parent's permission.
"Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State's declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content by prohibiting minors from accessing or using social media platforms," Lacson said.
Should the bill pass, social media platforms face fines and penalties such as suspension or revocation of access, operations, or licenses within the country for non-compliance.
Internet service providers could also be fined if they fail to execute or enforce disabling orders issued by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Meanwhile, third-party age verification providers will be held liable if they fail to meet verification standards and for breach of data privacy.
Among Lacson's other priority bills are the new anti-espionage law, anti-political dynasty, people's participation in the national budget process, and expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
According to social and consumer intelligence company Meltwater, there are 90.8 million social media user identities in the Philippines with a median age of 26.1 years. About 11.6 million are in the age 10 to 14 bracket, while 11.4 million are in the age 15 to 19 bracket.
