MANILA, Philippines —Globe Telecom has backed the position of Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo that regulating children's use of social media would be more effective than imposing an outright ban, saying online safety should be anchored on parental responsibility, stronger platform safeguards and digital literacy.
The company's statement came as lawmakers and various groups continue to discuss proposals to prohibit children below 16 years old from accessing social media platforms.
During the recent Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Romulo, who heads the House of Representatives’ technical working group tackling the measures, said regulation is a more practical approach than a total ban, stressing that parents play a key role in supervising their children's online activities.
Globe said protecting children online requires a shared effort among families, schools, government, the technology industry and digital platforms.
"Keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility," Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said. "Protecting young people requires stronger platform safeguards, responsible digital citizenship, parental guidance, and continued collaboration among families, schools, government, and industry."
The telecommunications company said digital platforms have introduced age requirements, parental supervision tools, content moderation systems and reporting mechanisms to improve child safety.
It urged technology providers to continue developing safety-by-design features while allowing young users to benefit from the educational and creative opportunities offered by digital platforms.
Castelo said technology remains an important tool for learning and communication, adding that child protection measures should be accompanied by efforts to equip young people with the skills to use digital platforms safely and responsibly.
Globe also emphasized the role of parents, educators and communities in promoting healthy digital habits, saying effective online child protection depends on practical and enforceable measures supported by digital literacy and responsible technology use.
The company noted that similar views have been expressed by organizations in the Philippines and overseas. The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines has warned that a blanket social media ban could drive children to unregulated online spaces, advocating instead for stronger digital literacy, parental guidance and greater accountability from technology platforms.
Globe also cited Amnesty International UK, which described proposals to ban social media for children under 16 as the "right diagnosis, but wrong prescription," saying governments should focus on making digital platforms safer by design and holding technology companies accountable instead of relying solely on blanket restrictions.
The company said it has continued to promote responsible technology use through its Digital Thumbprint Program and partnerships with schools, government agencies and communities.
It also recently expressed support for the Department of Education's efforts to encourage responsible gadget use in schools, saying digital literacy is essential to creating safer online spaces for students.
