Camille Naredo

Article (news)

THUMBNAIL

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Save the Children Philippines on Sunday said it does not support a blanket ban on social media for children, following the Philippine National Police&#x27;s plan to study an Australia-style restriction on social media use by minors.The child rights organization said it welcomes the PNP&#x27;s efforts to find ways to protect children both online and offline but stressed that a total ban is not the best approach. “Children have the right to protection, but they also have the right to information, freedom of expression, and play,” Save the Children said in a statement.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/25/pnp-to-study-australia-style-social-media-ban-for-children-after-tacloban-school-shooting-2044">PNP to study Australia-style social media ban for children after Tacloban school shooting </a> </div>“Blanket bans are not a sustainable solution because they place the burden of online safety primarily on children while overlooking the responsibilities of governments, digital platforms, parents, and other adults to create safer online environments,” it argued. The organization also pointed to challenges encountered in Australia&#x27;s implementation of its social media law, citing government reports that flagged technical difficulties in enforcing age restrictions, privacy concerns over age verification, and the possibility that children could shift to lesser-known and less-regulated online platforms.Instead of a blanket ban, the group said it is pushing for measures that would strengthen online child protection while preserving children&#x27;s rights.“Save the Children is participating in the House of Representatives Committee on the Welfare of Children&#x27;s Technical Working Group, together with other civil society organizations, to help develop stronger and more balanced online safety measures,” the statement read. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/21/countries-move-to-ban-social-media-for-children-1309">Countries move to ban social media for children</a></div>Among the measures being proposed are stronger age assurance and verification systems, age-appropriate platform design and content, greater accountability for social media companies, and more effective parental controls.The statement came after PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police organization would study Australia&#x27;s policy banning children under 16 from using social media, following discussions during the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference that touched on the recent school shooting in Tacloban City and online safety concerns involving minors.

Save the Children Philippines on Sunday said it does not support a blanket ban on social media for children, following the Philippine National Police's plan to study an Australia-style restriction on social media use by minors.

Save the Children Philippines on Sunday said it does not support a blanket ban on social media for children, following the Philippine National Police's plan to study an Australia-style restriction on social media use by minors.

Child rights org opposes blanket social media ban for minors

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Child rights org opposes blanket social media ban for minors

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 26, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

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