(File Photo)
TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list lawmakers have backed a proposed measure seeking to strengthen safeguards for children against harmful online content, exploitation and other digital risks following its approval on second reading by the House of Representatives on Oct. 6.
House Bill No. 11566, or the proposed Children’s Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act, seeks to impose age restrictions on digital platforms, establish child safety standards and hold online companies accountable for protecting young users.
Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre are among the authors of the measure, which also seeks to strengthen the role of parents and government agencies in promoting children’s online safety.
Acidre said the internet and social media have become integral to children’s education, communication and social development but also expose them to potential harm.
“Internet and social media can no longer be separated from our children’s lives. They learn, make friends and discover the world through these platforms. But these same spaces can expose them to exploitation, harmful content and experiences they may not yet be equipped to handle,” he said.
Under the proposed measure, children below 13 would be prohibited from creating or using accounts on covered digital platforms, while those aged 13 to below 18 could access these services subject to parental consent and prescribed safeguards.
The bill also seeks to restrict harmful content, targeted advertising, unsafe online interactions, livestreaming, endless scrolling, behavioral profiling and unnecessary collection or sharing of children’s personal information.
Digital platforms would also be required to establish privacy-preserving age verification systems, with users’ ages reverified at least twice a year. Simply asking users to declare their birth dates would not meet the proposed requirements.
Acidre said protecting children online should not rest solely on parents but should also require accountability from companies operating digital platforms.
“Child safety should already be built into these platforms, not something families have to figure out on their own,” he said.
The bill also covers social and interactive features of online gaming, including communication, content-sharing and livestreaming, but excludes core gameplay and game mechanics beyond its specified coverage.
It further proposes creating an Office for Children’s Social Media and Digital Safety under the Department of Information and Communications Technology to oversee implementation, alongside educational programs to help parents and caregivers promote responsible digital habits.
Acidre said the measure aims to allow children to benefit from technology while protecting them from online dangers.
“We do not want to keep children away from technology. We want them to enjoy its benefits, learn, discover and connect with others without being unnecessarily exposed to harm,” he said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
