MANILA — Senator Robinhood Padilla urged a deeper review of the effects of excessive social media use on the youth, warning that it is depriving children of meaningful childhood experiences and weakening their emotional resilience.

Speaking during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, Padilla said many young people are missing out on traditional forms of play, social interaction, and personal development that previous generations experienced.

He recalled growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, when children spent more time outdoors, forming friendships, and learning life lessons through real-world interactions.

“Ang mga bata po ngayon, sad to say, huwag kayo magagalit sakin, naku maraming batang magagalit siguro pero pasensya na kayo, you are weak,” he said.

Padilla also expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency of young people to label themselves as depressed, noting that such terms were rarely used during his generation.

“Nung panahon namin hindi uso yung salitang depression. Hindi ko nga alam yun eh, kung ano yung depression. Ngayon batang maliit, sasabihin I’m depressed. Magulo eh,” he said.

The senator urged fellow lawmakers to examine what children are losing due to excessive social media exposure and to consider policy interventions to protect their mental health, emotional development, and overall well-being.