‘To be perfectly honest, what we need is a law that would regulate access to social media platforms, just like other countries perhaps similar to United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act of 2023 and France’s Law No. 2022-300 of March 2022…’

FOR the last 24 years, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been working its way to address the potential harm of unregulated access to social media among the younger generations.

The truth is that DepEd (formerly the Department of Education, Culture and Sports) has, in fact, issued three department orders – DO No. 70 series of 199, DO No. 226 series of 2000 and DO No. 83 series of 2003.

These orders imposed restrictions on the use of smartphones and gadgets during class hours but were superseded by the pandemic as students needed to attend classes online.

The Education department seemed on a lonely crusade to save the younger generation from cultural, social and intellectual stagnation amid an imminent dependence – if not addiction to the use of modern-day gadgets in exploring social media where even inappropriate materials are posted.

While there are two legislative proposals – House Bill 662 and HB 10356 – which have been filed by Reps. Joey Salceda of Albay and Salvador Pleyto of Bulacan at the House of Representatives, it’s rather awkward that both could not even muster enough support from the members of the August chamber.

Why so? Methinks politicians in Congress are simply saving their asses from absorbing the brunt of the young voters and even those who would be reaching the voting age in time for the 2025 midterm election and the succeeding elections thereafter.

Some would probably say I am against the advancement of technology. The truth is that I’m not. In fact, I consider myself a digital guy who finds it imperative for the government to be on top of the situation – in this case the regulated use of smartphones and access to social media.

In fact, I ventured into digital business on the premise of having a sound Anti-Money Laundering Law embarking on a compliance framework to ensure the integrity of financial transactions developed while I was at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, and this was bolstered when I worked at the Senate of the Philippines and witnessed AMLA’s passage.

As per AMLCS Opinion No. 17-03 issued on 30 June 2017, it stated: “Considering the foregoing, AMLS Opinion 16-04 (issued on 30 September 2016) is hereby reconsidered.

Mohur, through their representation, may therefore maintain electronic records of their customers pursuant to their proposed Registration and Identification Process of Customers.”

Going back to our topic, the Philippines has yet to act on the digital harm caused by smartphones and social media platforms to young Filipinos.

To be perfectly honest, what we need is a law that would regulate access to social media platforms, just like other countries perhaps similar to the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act of 2023 and France’s Law No. 2022-300 of March 2022 as mentioned in this column last September did for the very reason that children should be protected from the harmful contents uploaded in Facebook, Tiktok, and Instagram, among other apps.

Perhaps a curfew on social media will be a good start. I also find it rather imperative for the parents to be given remote access to their children’s social media accounts so they can monitor what their kids are into and up to, who they’re dealing with and the type of content passing through their “walls.”

Recently, I had the privilege to chat with Dr. Isabel Quilendrino, who specializes in the field of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

“Yes, having a government law to address the addictiveness of children and adolescents on the use of their smartphones and social media access will definitely make it easier for parents and schools to prevent harm and to manage safe use,” Dr. Quilendrino said, adding: “As far as I know there is no existing government policy nor law in the Philippines on digital safety for kids and it’s solely the parents’ and some private schools’ who act as gatekeepers for access.”

Some private schools such as the Diliman Preparatory School in Quezon City, Metro Manila; Xavier School in San Juan, Metro Manila; and St. Mary of the Lake Mission School in Don Salvador in Negros are imposing internal policies so that kids will not be distracted by their smartphones and social media accounts while in school.

Rev. Fr. Efren Suralta, CM, principal of St. Mary of the Lake Mission from 2016 to 2021, reading this column sent a message that said: “Nung naging principal ako sa isang school dun sa negros dati. un ang ginagawa namin, may pahintulot ng mga parents (approved sa PTA assembly), no cellphones/ gadgets during class hours. Pwede sila magdala pero kailangan ideposit nila sa teacher or sa class adviser who would turn those over sa Principal’s office for safe keeping. Makukuha lang nila after ng last period or kung may school activity na kailangan nila ang kanilang cell phone or gadget. We also provided them with sports materials para maglalaro sila.”

My take: Sana all!