MANILA — The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on Monday voiced support for a proposed law regulating minors’ access to social media, emphasizing that it could play a crucial role in shielding young Filipinos from growing online risks such as cyberbullying, scams, and sexual exploitation.

CWC Executive Director and Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas, welcomed the measure but stressed the need to strike a balance between child protection and children’s rights to information and participation.

“Malaki ang maitutulong nitong panukalang batas para protektahan ang mga bata laban sa cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation, at misinformation,” Tapales said.

The bill, filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, proposes to ban individuals under 18 years old from accessing social media platforms, citing research linking excessive use to mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and online harassment.

While acknowledging the bill’s intent to safeguard minors, Tapales expressed concern over a possible blanket ban, noting that many young people use social media for educational and civic purposes.

“I don’t think kailangan silang i-ban… at the end of the day, we are balancing the rights of children to protection and their right to participate in information as protected by our Constitution,” he said.

Tapales emphasized the importance of aligning the proposal with existing child protection laws and increasing digital literacy for both minors and their guardians. He also urged social media platforms to strengthen age verification mechanisms and adopt safety-by-design features to limit harmful content.

He cited a 2022 study showing that 95% of Filipino children aged 12 to 17 are active online, with around 2 million reportedly exposed to online sexual abuse in 2021 alone.

“Parents should be the first line of defense,” Tapales said, calling for their active involvement in guiding their children’s digital habits.

He also encouraged the public to report suspicious online activity through the Makabata Helpline 1383, and to support ongoing online safety education campaigns.

“Maganda po ‘yung bill, pero dapat balansehin natin ‘yan sa karapatan ng mga bata,” Tapales said, reiterating the need to protect both the safety and participation rights of minors in the digital age. (PNA)