Despite Facebook’s minimum age requirement of at least 13 years old for its users, a high percentage of underage Filipino users continue to access the platform, Senate President Win Gatchalian said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Gatchalian pointed out that 87.64% of Filipino internet users aged 12 have a social media account, while 80.76% of those aged 11 are social media users.
“87.64% of Filipino internet users aged 12 have a social media account, while 80.76% of those aged 11 are social media users.”
Among 10-year-old Filipino internet users, 72.86% have social media accounts, while 93.72% of internet users aged 13 are social media users.
“Alam natin na maraming naidudulot na kabutihan ang teknolohiya,” the veteran legislator said during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
“May kaakibat din itong mga negatibong epekto sa ating mga kabataan, lalo na kung ang paggamit ng mga gadget at iba pang teknolohiya ay hindi namomonitor.”
“Ngunit may kaakibat din itong mga negatibong epekto sa ating mga kabataan, lalo na kung ang paggamit ng mga gadget at iba pang teknolohiya ay hindi namomonitor at hindi nabibigyan ng wastong gabay,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The Senate chief previously filed the Social Media Safety for Children Act (Senate Bill No. 2066), which seeks to ban social media use for minors under 16.
He also filed the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 627) to prohibit the use of smartphones and other electronic devices during class hours in public and private schools.
