Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente C. Sotto III has sought a Senate inquiry into the impact of social media on Filipino children, citing concerns over mental health, online safety, and minors’ possible exposure to harmful digital content.
Sotto filed Senate Resolution No. 486 directing the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on how social media use affects children’s well-being and what safeguards may be needed to protect them online.
The proposed inquiry will examine the effects of excessive screen time and exposure to harmful content on children’s mental health, safety, moral development, and overall welfare.
It will also look into whether the growing involvement of minors in violence, cyber-related offenses, and other harmful behavior may be linked to social media use.
Sotto said technology has expanded access to learning, communication, and creativity, but has also exposed children to risks such as cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, grooming, self-harm content, misinformation, and gambling-related materials.
The resolution also cited studies linking excessive screen time among children and adolescents to higher rates of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and other mental health concerns.
Sotto noted that several countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Portugal, have already imposed restrictions on minors’ access to social media, while others are considering similar measures.
However, he stressed that Congress must first conduct a thorough review before adopting drastic policies such as a social media ban. He said lawmakers need to assess existing Philippine laws, actual social media use among Filipino children, and the government’s capacity to enforce possible regulations.
The resolution aims to strike a balance between children’s access to technology and information and the State’s duty to protect their welfare and development.