Cebu lawmakers ask House to pass law regulating social media use for minors

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has urged the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass a law that regulates the access to social media by minors or children 16 years old and below.

Association of Barangay Council (ABC) President and ex-officio Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez, in his message during PB’s regular session on Monday, July 13, cited the harmful effects of too much exposure of children to social media.

“Today, our children are witnessing increasing hostility on social media. They are exposed to the erosion of civility, the widespread use of foul language, the normalization of profanity, cyberbullying, and disturbing or inappropriate content,” Martinez said.

“These influences are being absorbed by young and impressionable minds every single day. Children learn not only from what we intentionally teach them, but also from what we fail to explain, supervise, or regulate,” he added.

During the session, Martinez presented a viral awareness video of a mother who shared the harmful effects of the online game Roblox on her son, wherein the boy was promised a reward if he followed the tasks of the person he was talking to online.

Martinez noted that several countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, France, and Malaysia, have already adopted or are pursuing similar measures.

Though restrictions alone are not a complete solution, Martinez emphasized that regulating minors’ access to social media is an important step in protecting them from harmful online content.

With the combination of education, parental guidance, and the promotion of responsible digital citizenship, Martinez said regulation can help ensure that social media remains a platform for learning, communication, and positive engagement for young people.(MyTVCebu)