Politics · Philippines Bureau
Mental health advocates reject social media ban for minors
A Philippine mental health organization has dismissed proposed legislation restricting social media access for children under 18 as ineffective. The Senate approved the measure in a near-unanimous 16-1-0 vote despite the group's concerns.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Mental health advocates in the Philippines have pushed back against a Senate-approved bill that would limit social media use among minors, arguing the approach fails to address the root causes of online safety concerns.
The Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2424, known as the Safe Media Access and Responsible Technology for Kids Act, by a decisive margin of 16-1-0 on Friday. Despite the overwhelming legislative support, a leading mental health organization characterized the proposed measure as a "non-solution" to protecting young people in digital spaces.
According to the group, blanket restrictions on social media access do not tackle underlying issues affecting youth safety and wellbeing online. Mental health experts contend that more comprehensive approaches—including digital literacy programs, parental guidance frameworks, and platform accountability measures—would better serve Philippine children.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The debate reflects broader concerns across the region about balancing youth protection with digital access and free expression in an increasingly connected society.