Lawmaker backs social media restrictions for children under 15

A Las Piñas representative has voiced support for legislation that would restrict social media use among children aged 14 and below, citing growing evidence that drug syndicates are leveraging internet platforms to recruit and conduct illicit transactions with young people.

The lawmaker's backing adds momentum to ongoing efforts in Congress to impose age-based restrictions on social media platforms. Proponents argue that online networks are increasingly being weaponized by criminal organizations, which use coded language and encrypted communication to evade law enforcement detection while targeting vulnerable youth.

The concern reflects broader anxieties among policymakers about the role of digital platforms in facilitating drug-related crimes. Advocates for the restrictions contend that younger users lack the digital literacy to recognize manipulation tactics and are particularly susceptible to grooming and recruitment by criminal networks operating online.

The proposal remains under legislative consideration as lawmakers weigh the balance between child protection measures and concerns about restricting minors' access to digital platforms. Similar age-based social media restrictions have been debated in other jurisdictions grappling with comparable security challenges.