Globe pushes for regulated social media use of minors instead of ban

Telecommunications firm Globe has reaffirmed its advocacy for a balanced approach to online child safety as it pushes for regulated social media use instead of a ban.

"Keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility. Protecting young people requires stronger platform safeguards, responsible digital citizenship, parental guidance, and continued collaboration among families, schools, government, and industry," said Froilan Castelo, General Counsel at Globe.

He made the statement as legislators and various groups continue discussions on calls to prohibit children below 16 years old from accessing social media.

He said Globe believes protecting young Filipinos requires shared responsibility among families, schools, government, industry, and digital platforms.

He added the company advocates for solutions that address online risks while preserving opportunities for learning, innovation, and responsible digital participation through stronger platform safeguards, responsible parenting, and digital literacy.

He said digital platforms have strengthened youth safety through age requirements, parental supervision tools, content moderation, and reporting mechanisms.

Globe encourages technology providers to continue investing in safety-by-design features while ensuring young users continue to benefit from the educational, creative, and developmental opportunities that digital platforms provide.

"Technology plays an important role on how young people learn and connect," Castelo said. "As we strengthen child protection measures, we must also equip them with the skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly."

The telco also underscored the vital role of parents, educators, and communities in fostering healthy digital habits. It believes effective child online protection requires practical, enforceable measures supported by digital literacy and responsible technology use.

Globe said the balanced approach is shared by organizations in the Philippines and abroad, citing the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham), which has cautioned that an outright social media ban may push children to unregulated online spaces, emphasizing the need for stronger digital literacy, parental guidance, and platform accountability.

It added that Amnesty International UK described proposals to ban social media for children under 16 as the "right diagnosis, but wrong prescription," urging governments to focus on making digital platforms safer by design and holding technology companies accountable rather than relying solely on blanket restrictions.

Castelo said Globe has consistently advanced this approach through its advocacy for responsible technology use among young Filipinos.

Earlier this month, the telco firm expressed support for the Department of Education's efforts to promote responsible gadget use in schools, recognizing that digital literacy is key to creating safer digital spaces for learners.

Through its Digital Thumbprint Program and partnerships with schools, government, and communities, Globe continues to promote digital citizenship, cybersecurity awareness, media and information literacy, and responsible online behavior among students, parents, and educators. —AOL, GMA News