Sotto Pushes Probe Into Social Media’s Growing Influence on Filipino Children
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Alarmed by the growing exposure of Filipino children to harmful online content, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III has called for a comprehensive Senate investigation into the impact of social media on minors, saying the government must determine whether digital platforms are contributing to rising cases of youth violence, cyber-related offenses, and other risky behavior.
Through Senate Resolution No. 486, Sotto is seeking an inquiry to assess the effects of social media on children’s mental health, behavior, and overall development, and to identify safeguards to protect young Filipinos in the digital age better.
The proposed investigation comes amid growing concern over the influence of online platforms on children, particularly following the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City on June 22 and a series of reported threats targeting educational institutions.
The incident has reignited calls within the government to tighten regulations on children’s access to digital platforms.
Earlier, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was open to studying proposals that would restrict or even prohibit access to certain online games following the Tacloban tragedy.
At the Senate, support for stronger digital safeguards has also gained momentum.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has renewed his proposal to prohibit minors from using social media and to limit their access to violent online games, while Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has backed a serious review of whether stricter controls on children’s social media use are necessary.
Despite these proposals, Sotto emphasized that any future restrictions must be supported by evidence rather than public sentiment alone.
He said Congress must first examine existing laws, understand how Filipino children actually use social media, and evaluate whether government agencies have the capacity to effectively implement and enforce any new regulations.
“The goal is to strike the proper balance between children’s access to technology and information and the State’s constitutional duty to protect their welfare and development,” Sotto said.
The planned inquiry will also examine the consequences of prolonged screen exposure and children’s access to harmful online material, including cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, grooming, self-harm content, misinformation, gambling-related content, and other digital threats.
While acknowledging that technology has transformed education, communication, and creativity, Sotto warned that the same platforms have also become avenues for abuse and exploitation, particularly among young and vulnerable users.
He likewise cited studies linking excessive screen time among children and adolescents to higher risks of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and other mental health concerns, saying these issues warrant closer scrutiny as lawmakers consider future policies on children’s online safety.
The proposed Senate inquiry is expected to gather input from educators, mental health professionals, child welfare advocates, law enforcement agencies, technology experts, and digital platform stakeholders as lawmakers weigh measures aimed at creating a safer online environment for Filipino children.
ia/xf
