A CONSUMER advocacy group on Friday urged Congress to reconsider proposals to ban minors from using social media, warning that sweeping restrictions could push young users into less regulated online spaces instead of protecting them.
CitizenWatch Philippines said children and teenagers could simply migrate to harder-to-monitor platforms if barred from mainstream social media, making them more vulnerable to cyberbullying, scams, predators and explicit content.
CitizenWatch co-convenor and former Quezon City congressman Kit Belmonte said protecting minors from online harm is valid, but a total ban fails to reflect the complexity of digital risks.
“It may overlook important nuances, create unintended consequences and fail to address the real sources of harm,” Belmonte said.
At least 15 bills have been filed in Congress proposing restrictions on minors’ access to social media, inspired partly by policies in Indonesia and Australia.
CitizenWatch warned enforcement could be difficult, since minors may bypass restrictions using virtual private networks or fake accounts. It also raised concerns over privacy risks from strict age verification systems requiring IDs or biometrics.
Instead of a blanket ban, the group called for “balanced, proportionate regulation,” including stronger parental controls, safer platform defaults, improved reporting systems and digital literacy education.
“The most effective path is thoughtful regulation that protects children, empowers families and implements responsibly,” Belmonte said.
