Filipino youth push for regulation over social media ban

Filipino youth are calling on lawmakers to regulate social media rather than impose a blanket ban on users below 16 years old, based on a nationwide consultation by child rights organization Plan International Pilipinas.

The consultation gathered responses from 164 participants through an online survey and included a focus group discussion with 13 members of the organization’s Youth Advisory Group.

It was conducted amid ongoing policy debates on social media restrictions for minors, both in the Philippines and abroad.

Most respondents said they were not seeking unrestricted access to social media platforms.

Instead, they asked for age-appropriate safeguards, tighter regulation of high-risk platform features, and stronger accountability measures for technology companies.

Plan International Pilipinas Executive Director Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang said the findings reflect young people’s desire for safety without losing connectivity.

“Children and young people are asking adults to build systems that keep them safe while allowing them to stay connected. While concerns around exposure to harmful content and online harm are legitimate and reflect real risks to children’s safety and wellbeing, they point to broader systemic problems that a ban on access alone would not resolve,” Sanchez-Ogang said.

The consultation comes as several countries move to restrict minors’ social media access. The United Kingdom recently announced plans to limit access for children, following Australia, which rolled out age verification and platform restrictions in December 2025.

In the Philippines, several bills seeking similar restrictions have been filed in both chambers of Congress, though none has been signed into law.

Survey results showed that 63% of respondents chose “Depends / with conditions” when asked whether social media should be banned for those below 16.

Respondents in this group said any policy should include screen time limits, active parental guidance, and age-appropriate platform settings.

Around 29% of respondents supported an outright ban, citing harmful content, cyberbullying, and addictive platform design as their main concerns.

A smaller group, 7% of respondents, opposed a ban altogether, pointing to social media’s role in learning and in maintaining relationships with family and friends.

During the focus group discussion, youth participants explained why a blanket ban would not work in the Philippine context and described what regulated access should look like instead.

One participant, describing how social media helps children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stay connected to parents abroad, said the platforms carry emotional weight beyond entertainment.

“Para sa amin na mga anak ng overseas Filipino workers (OFW), ang social media is not just entertainment for us. It is a connection. It is a relationship. It is love in digital form through chats, video calls, messages,” the participant said. “Ang ‘good morning’ ni Mama ay nasa Messenger na. Ang ‘kumain ka na ba?’ nasa video call na; ang ‘ingat’ nasa voice note na; ang yakap ay emoji na lang.”

(For us children of overseas Filipino workers, social media is not just entertainment. It is connection. It is relationship. It is love in digital form through chats, video calls, and messages. The ‘good morning’ from my mother is on Messenger. The ‘have you eaten?’ is on a video call; the ‘take care’ is in a voice note; the hug is just an emoji now)

Participants also raised concerns about how a ban could be enforced, noting that many Filipino children already access the internet through shared devices, piso-wifi stations, internet cafés, or accounts created by adults.

One youth advocate warned that a ban would not remove children from the internet — it would only remove them from adult supervision.

“Hindi mawawala ang bata sa internet kapag ito ay banned, nawawala lang sila sa paningin ng nakakatanda,” the advocate said.

(A child will not disappear from the internet if it is banned; they will only disappear from adult sight)

Participants said any regulatory framework should include reporting mechanisms designed around how children and young people actually communicate online.

They called for reporting channels that are confidential, familiar, and accessible at any time, rather than relying solely on adults to flag concerns on their behalf.

“Sana may chat-based na reporting mechanism na convenient at accessible. Yung puwede kaming magsabi ng concerns anytime, at makapag-disclose at our own pace. Hindi sana yung matatanda lagi ang magre-report para sa amin. Dapat kami rin ang kusang makapagkukwento sa familiar na platform para sa amin,” one youth participant said.

(We hope there is a chat-based reporting mechanism that is convenient and accessible, where we can raise concerns anytime and disclose at our own pace. It should not always be adults reporting on our behalf. We should also be able to share our experiences voluntarily on a platform that is familiar to us)

Participants also asked to be consulted before any legislation affecting them is drafted.

“Sana ay kinokonsulta po kami bago mag-draft ng bills. Sana hindi lang po sila gagaya sa ibang bansa,” one participant said.

Sanchez-Ogang said the consultation results should guide policymakers toward more nuanced approaches rather than one-size-fits-all restrictions.

“Plan International Pilipinas is calling on Philippine lawmakers currently deliberating social media access restriction bills to adopt a regulatory approach that strengthens platform accountability, requires safety measures such as age verification and child-friendly reporting mechanisms, and invests in digital literacy for children, parents, and educators,” she said.

The organization also called on parents and caregivers to maintain open communication with children about their online experiences.

It urged technology companies to strengthen safety-by-design features, age-appropriate settings, and reporting systems.

Plan International Pilipinas likewise called on schools and communities to build local awareness and support systems around children’s online safety.