MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for stronger protection for minors from the “toxicity and hate culture pervasive in social media,” which he said contributes to mental health problems and other harmful consequences.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address, Marcos said children should be shielded from “the corrosive influence of fake news; the unfettered exposure to pornography, even to minors; the constant depiction of casual violence; and the toxicity and hate culture pervasive in social media.” These, he said, drive mental health issues, a rise in teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS cases, and other extremely harmful effects. He called on society to “assume a community responsibility” for protecting the youth.
Several officials and government agencies have pointed to social media as a possible factor behind the school shooting in Tacloban City last June that killed three people and injured several others. The two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were said to be regular users of the video game GoreBox, which the government has temporarily banned since then, despite experts noting that there is no proven link between violent video games and criminal violence.
School Security
Marcos said local government units and barangays, together with the Philippine National Police and the Department of Education, would strengthen security in schools. The DepEd had earlier reported that more cases of school violence have been recorded nationwide following the fatal Tacloban incident.
The President said the DepEd is ensuring that all mechanisms and processes for reporting and addressing incidents of bullying are working, including for emergency cases. Teachers and principals, he added, are being prepared to mediate and carry out de-escalation measures should arguments break out among students. A first batch of at least 10,000 school counsellor associates will also be deployed to public schools to guide students facing difficult situations, he said.
A Proposed Social Media Ban
At the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III called for a bill prohibiting children under 13 from creating, registering, or using social media accounts to be added to the priorities of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has also filed Senate Resolution 486 seeking an inquiry into the impact of social media on Filipino children, including excessive screen time and exposure to harmful online content, following the Tacloban incident.
The PNP has said it will study a proposal to restrict children’s access to social media, drawing on Australia’s law banning users under 16 from social media platforms. The child rights organisation Save the Children Philippines, while welcoming the initiative, stressed that a total ban is not the best approach, citing children’s rights to information, freedom of expression, and play. The group instead called for stronger age assurance and verification systems, age-appropriate platform design and content, greater accountability for social media companies, and more effective parental controls.
