In an era where social media and online gaming dominate children's lives, mere warnings are insufficient. We need clear policies, strong safeguards, and accountability that digital platforms cannot evade.
The numbers tell why action is needed soon. There were 68.42 million Filipinos who used the internet to access social media in 2024, including 6.68 million internet users aged 10 to 14 years old, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. Meanwhile, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 2.74 million reports in 2023. These figures show that the risks do not stop at Quezon’s borders.
The passage of the third reading of House Bill No. 11566, or the Children’s Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act, is a milestone. It’s intended to establish standards to protect children online. The proposal would restrict access for children under 13 and establish safer usage limits for teenagers—requiring parental consent and removing features that expose them to cyberbullying, online grooming, and excessive use.
But approval is only the start. It does not automatically become law. The process must continue, and once enacted, the rules must be truly enforced. A minimum age alone is insufficient. We need safe, clear options to verify age without exposing personal data. Platforms must take responsibility for harmful content, protect children from abuse, and stop promoting overuse.
Parents and schools still matter. Children need to learn how to identify risk, to protect themselves, and to ask for help. Technology is vital for education and growth, but children must use it safely.
It was Rep. David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez, Deputy Speaker and Representative of the 2nd District of Quezon, whose efforts helped push this measure forward. Yet the real test is not who supported it, but whether it will truly protect children.
The real test is whether children in Quezon—and across the country—are safer online. A law must be more than a promise. It must be enforced, monitored, and felt in every home, school, and barangay, especially for Quezon's children.
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