CRN says blanket social media ban may exclude children without addressing the platforms and systems that expose them to online harm.
MANILA (September 5) — Child rights groups have urged lawmakers to rethink a proposed blanket ban on social media use by children under 16, saying keeping young people off digital platforms will not necessarily protect them from online abuse, exploitation and other risks.
The Child Rights Network (CRN), the Philippines’ broadest coalition of child-focused organizations, said the solution should focus on making digital spaces safer rather than simply shutting children out of them.
“Banning children from social media does not protect them from unsafe environments. Making the environments safer is what protects them,” CRN said in a statement Tuesday.
The coalition acknowledged that lawmakers pushing for the proposed restriction intend to protect children from online harm.
But it warned that a blanket ban could place much of the responsibility for online safety on children and their families while leaving social media platforms and the systems that enable harmful content and behavior largely untouched.
Children have rights online
CRN said the digital world has become an extension of children’s everyday lives, providing spaces where they learn, communicate, build relationships and express themselves.
Children therefore continue to exercise their rights in the digital environment, including their rights to development, protection and participation, the group said.
“Children, just like adults, have digital rights, and the government must put the best interests of the child at the heart of every decision affecting those rights,” CRN said.
The coalition cited General Comment No. 25, adopted by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2021, which outlines how the Convention on the Rights of the Child applies to the digital environment.
CRN said policies affecting children’s access to online platforms should be guided by the best interests of the child, rather than relying primarily on exclusion.
Teach children to stay safe
Instead of a blanket prohibition, CRN called for a broader approach that equips children to recognize online risks, report abuse and seek help.
Parents, it said, should create safe spaces where children can talk openly about their online experiences, including encounters with harassment, exploitation or harmful content.
Schools should also strengthen digital citizenship and online safety education, while government and technology companies should do more to prevent abuse and hold platforms accountable for unsafe digital environments.
A child representative from Batang Juan Network, a CRN member organization, said social media is already woven into how many young people learn and communicate.
“I don’t think banning social media for everyone under 16 is the best solution because it is already part of how many students learn and express themselves,” the representative said.
For children who use online platforms for school-related activities, communication and creative expression, the group said an outright ban could also restrict legitimate opportunities for learning and participation.
Will a ban work?
CRN also questioned whether a blanket prohibition can be effectively enforced.
The coalition cited Australia’s experience with social media restrictions, where an independent study found that nearly 86 percent of surveyed under-16s continued to use at least one restricted platform.
The experience, CRN said, illustrates the difficulty of relying on prohibition when children can potentially circumvent age restrictions and platform controls.
A ban could also drive some young users toward less regulated or hidden online spaces, potentially making it more difficult for parents and authorities to know where children are and what risks they are encountering.
“A blanket social media ban mistakes restriction for resolution,” CRN said.
Who should carry the responsibility?
For CRN, protecting children online should not become a responsibility carried mainly by children and their parents.
Government agencies, schools, parents, communities and technology companies all have roles to play in creating a digital environment where children can participate without being exposed to preventable harm.
The coalition said stronger safeguards should include mechanisms for children to report abuse, effective platform accountability, age-appropriate safety features and accessible support when children encounter online harm.
The debate over a social media ban, it said, should therefore go beyond the question of whether children should be allowed to use digital platforms.
It should also ask what government and technology companies are doing to make those platforms safer for the children who already live, learn and communicate in the digital world.
CRN ended its appeal to lawmakers with a pointed question:
