A consumer advocacy group on Monday called on Congress to adopt ‘balanced and proportionate’ regulation on social media rather than a blanket ban on minors, as it may simply push them away to riskier platforms.
CitizenWatch Philippines made the call after warning lawmakers that broad prohibitions may not fully address how young users behave online or how platforms operate across borders.
The group’s co-convener and former lawmaker Kit Belmonte also pointed out that minors may still find ways around blanket restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs), creating false adult identities or shifting to private messaging apps, gaming chats and offshore platforms that may have weaker safeguards or less transparent moderation systems.
‘Young users are highly adaptive in digital spaces. If access is restricted on mainstream platforms, some may simply migrate to channels that are harder for parents, platforms, and regulators to monitor,’ he said in a statement.
‘That may risk displacing harm rather than reducing it,’ he added.
Belmonte then raised concerns about the country’s readiness to implement a nationwide ban as the policy would require reliable identity verification systems, regular compliance audits, clear dispute resolution mechanisms, and the ability to compel foreign-based platforms with no physical presence in the Philippines.
‘How the government ensures compliance across global platforms is a serious implementation question that deserves careful study,’ the former lawmaker said.
‘Any regulatory model must be workable not only in principle, but also in practice,’ he added.
Belmonte also further noted that social media platforms currently serve multiple roles beyond entertainment, including communication, education, news access, skills development, e-commerce and even livelihood opportunities for millions of Filipinos.
Hence, any policy affecting this access should consider the broader implications for not just for minors and students, but microentrepreneurs, creators and ordinary consumers.
According to CitizenWatch, the government should adopt a more targeted framework centered on platform accountability and child safety standards.
These include safer default settings for minors, stronger parental controls, time management tools, transparent reporting systems, digital literacy education, and stricter enforcement of existing consumer protection and data privacy laws.
Belmonte said continued dialogue among lawmakers, parents, educators, technology platforms, and civil society would also be essential in crafting measures that genuinely protect young users while remaining responsive to the realities of the digital age.
‘The shared objective is to keep minors safe online,’ Belmonte said.
The most effective path is thoughtful regulation that protects children, empowers families and implements responsibly,’ he added.