MANILA, Philippines — Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos on Friday backed proposals to restrict social media access for children aged 14 and below, citing concerns that drug syndicates could use online platforms to recruit minors and facilitate illegal drug activities.
Santos, chairperson of the House committee on dangerous drugs, supported the proposal after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla endorsed similar restrictions during a House appropriations committee briefing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“Our children are among the most vulnerable targets in the digital world. We cannot allow drug syndicates to use social media as a hunting ground to recruit, manipulate and expose young people to illegal drugs,” Santos said.
Santos did not cite specific data or incidents to support his claim that drug syndicates use social media to recruit children.
Remulla told lawmakers Thursday that he fully supported a social media ban for children 14 and below, or restrictions on their hours of use.
“I am in total agreement with the ban,” Remulla said. “I would prefer 14-years-old and below that they be banned or restricted hours of use.”
The proposals come as lawmakers consider different age limits for children’s access to social media.
The Senate committee on public information and mass media endorsed Wednesday a bill that would set 16 as the minimum age for social media use.
Lawmakers have cited concerns about children’s exposure to harmful online content following two school shootings this year.
Three students died in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22. Two people, including the gunman, died in the Aug. 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City.
Officials have raised concerns that those involved in the shootings may have encountered violent content online, although authorities have not established that social media caused the attacks.
Santos said online risks extend beyond violent content and include the recruitment of young people into illegal activities.
He said drug dealers could reach young users through social media accounts, private messages and encrypted or less-visible online channels despite platforms prohibiting the sale and promotion of illegal drugs.
Santos also said drug enforcement authorities have reported drug-related activities on major online platforms, particularly messaging applications commonly used in the Philippines.
“The fight against illegal drugs should not be limited to the streets. We must also confront the new methods being used by drug syndicates in cyberspace,” Santos said.