TACLOBAN CITY — With Filipino children spending more time on social media, online games and other digital platforms, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre is pushing for stronger rules to make these spaces safer for young users, particularly as authorities deal with recent incidents of violence involving students.
Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said the government should look beyond school security and examine the online environment where children increasingly interact, consume content and communicate with others.
In a statement dated Aug. 25, Acidre called for the passage of a proposed Social Media and Digital Safety Act, which would establish a legal “duty of care” for social media companies, online gaming platforms, livestreaming services and other digital platforms frequently used by minors.
“We should not make the simplistic claim that social media or online games alone cause violence. But neither can we ignore the influence these digital platforms can have on behavior,” Acidre said.
He said keeping children safe online should not be left entirely to parents, arguing that digital companies that profit from the time, attention and spending of young Filipinos should also be held accountable for their safety.
Among the measures Acidre is proposing is the use of reliable and privacy-protective age verification systems to prevent children from easily getting around age restrictions.
He also wants greater accountability for anonymous accounts. Under his proposal, platforms would maintain verified information connecting accounts to real individuals while still allowing users to publicly use screen names.
For minors, Acidre proposed making safety features the default rather than something that parents or children must actively turn on.
These include stronger privacy settings, restrictions on messages from strangers, limits on location sharing, protection from inappropriate advertising and parental controls for access, screen time and online spending.
The proposal would also address digital features designed to keep users engaged for long periods, including endless scrolling, autoplay, streaks and repeated notifications.
The proposed rules would also cover online gaming platforms, particularly games that allow interaction with strangers, encourage prolonged play, involve in-game purchases or use randomized rewards.
Acidre emphasized that the proposal is not an attempt to portray gaming as harmful.
He said online games provide recreation, creativity, competition and social interaction to millions of Filipinos, but platforms should also take responsibility for protecting young players from potential risks.
He is likewise seeking rapid-response mechanisms for credible online threats, livestreamed violence and content encouraging attacks against schools or individuals.
Under the proposal, platforms would be expected to act quickly on credible threats, prevent the further spread of violent material, preserve relevant evidence and cooperate with lawful investigations.
The proposal comes as schools and authorities continue to strengthen security following recent incidents of violence involving students, raising broader questions about how schools, families, government and technology companies can work together to protect young people.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
