Benise Balaoing

Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MECQ against COVID-19

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A proposed law banning Filipinos aged 16 and below from accessing social media is gaining urgency in Congress, but a Philippine tech leader warns the measure could miss the real source of harm — and create new risks if poorly enforced.</p><p>House Bill 8262 or the Social Media Protection for Minors Act seeks to prohibit minors from creating or accessing social media accounts, while shifting the burden of enforcement to platforms through age checks, algorithm safeguards, and compliance systems.</p><p>The bill frames the issue as both a public health and child protection crisis, citing risks such as addiction, exposure to harmful content, and online exploitation.</p><p>But on ANC’s Top Story, TraXion Tech CEO Ann Cuisia said a blanket restriction alone will not solve the problem.</p><p>&quot;It may reduce exposure… but let’s be honest, children can still find ways around it. If we stop at a ban, we are kidding ourselves.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BAN VS REALITY </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The proposed measure is among the most aggressive in Southeast Asia, following similar moves in countries like <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/1/12/meta-urges-australia-to-change-teen-social-media-ban-0701">Australia </a>and France.</p><p>It mandates that:<br/>-Minors aged 16 and below cannot access social media at all<br/>-Platforms, not parents, carry primary responsibility<br/>-Age assurance systems must be implemented<br/>-Algorithms that drive compulsive use must be addressed</p><p>But Cuisia says enforcement is where the plan could break down.</p><p>&quot;Kids can get around it in seconds… if you become too strict, you run into privacy concerns.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines, where internet access among children is widespread, faces a structural challenge: verifying age at scale without collecting excessive personal data or enabling surveillance risks.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/12/8/-we-were-born-with-it-teens-worldwide-react-to-australia-social-media-ban-1419">&#x27;We were born with it&#x27;: Teens worldwide react to Australia social media ban </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE REAL PROBLEM: ALGORITHMS</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Cuisia pointed to what she calls the “engine behind the harm” — recommendation systems designed to maximize engagement.</p><p>&quot;They don’t just wait for kids to search. They actively keep serving more of whatever grabs attention.&quot;</p><p>Under HB 8262, lawmakers are already moving in this direction. The bill explicitly recognizes that algorithmic systems can expose minors to psychological harm and addictive design features, signaling a shift from user behavior to platform accountability.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/3/26/california-jury-finds-meta-youtube-liable-in-social-media-addiction-trial-0307">California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial</a></div><p>But enforcement remains a gray area: regulating algorithms is far more complex than blocking access.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Man2v63qiDU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHO SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The bill is clear on one point — platforms must carry the burden.</p><p>It requires companies to:<br/>-Prevent underage account creation<br/>-Remove suspected minor accounts<br/>-Implement age verification systems<br/>-Report compliance to regulators</p><p>Cuisia supports that direction, but says accountability must go deeper.</p><p>&quot;They built these platforms to keep people engaged… they cannot now act surprised when young users get harmed.&quot;</p><p>She cited global legal developments, where courts are beginning to hold tech firms accountable for design features such as infinite scroll and addictive feedback loops.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PRIVACY VS PROTECTION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>One of the bill’s tightropes is balancing child safety with data privacy.<br/>HB 8262 explicitly requires “privacy-protective age assurance measures” and prohibits excessive data collection.</p><p>But in practice, stricter enforcement often means:<br/>-ID verification<br/>-Biometric checks<br/>-Cross-platform tracking</p><p>&quot;If you become too strict… platforms start collecting more personal information.&quot;</p><p>That trade-off is already sparking debate: Are we protecting children — or building a surveillance layer around them?</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/12/3/youtube-says-kids-to-be-less-safe-under-australia-s-social-media-ban-0723">YouTube says kids to be &#x27;less safe&#x27; under Australia&#x27;s social media ban</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/12/4/meta-starts-removing-under-16s-from-social-media-in-australia-1039?fbclid=IwY2xjawOkbv9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKZHhXSUpFZk4yVnl2UERlc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqN2H14Dj-GWP45nv8nrbXQk8a6cAIaFfAQBKQtqa6thUCvEQtZeeExt0iU9_aem_9A_FvNWy2JiwmRlzAXN1Yg">Meta starts removing under-16s from social media in Australia </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO SILVER BULLET</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Even the bill itself acknowledges a key risk: poorly designed bans could push minors into less regulated spaces, making them harder to protect.</p><p>Cuisia agrees.</p><p>“There’s no amount of law… that can solve this 100 percent.”</p><p>Instead, she outlines a layered approach, including platform redesign, smarter regulation, parental guidance, and digital literacy. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A DEFINING POLICY TEST</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The Philippines is now confronting a high-stakes question: can the government regulate Big Tech without breaking access, privacy, and participation?</p><p>For Cuisia, the answer lies not in choosing one solution — but in forcing all stakeholders to act.</p><p>“We need to put guardrails at the very core of the platform… we need all of the above.” </p><p>As Congress debates HB 8262, one thing is clear: this is no longer just about screen time. It is about who controls the digital environment shaping the next generation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/3/20/philippines-threatens-roblox-ban-for-harboring-pedophiles-drug-dealers-0013">Philippines threatens Roblox ban for harboring pedophiles, drug dealers </a></div><div><em>Catch the full interview with Ann Cuisia on Top Story, exclusively on the ANC. </em></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/29hqZtDubAE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A proposed law banning Filipinos aged 16 and below from accessing social media is gaining urgency in Congress.</p>

A proposed law banning Filipinos aged 16 and below from accessing social media is gaining urgency in Congress.

'We’re kidding ourselves': Tech CEO warns vs PH social media ban for minors

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

'We’re kidding ourselves': Tech CEO warns vs PH social media ban for minors

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2026 12:17 PM PHT

Read More:

internet

social media

social media ban

Social Media Protection for Minors Act

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.