House pushes measures vs. drug syndicates targeting PH kids online

MANILA – The House of Representatives is drafting proposed measures that would ban children aged 13 and below from accessing social media and online gaming platforms and regulate social media use among those aged 14 to 17 amid concerns over the use of digital platforms by drug syndicates to target the youth.

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, newly designated chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, raised the alarm Friday over the reported use of social media platforms to recruit and target young people.

In a statement, Santos said drug groups are increasingly exploiting platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram by creating fake identities and accounts to conceal their activities, communicate with potential recruits and allegedly market illegal drugs using coded language and deceptive online profiles.

“Our children are among the most vulnerable targets in the digital world. We cannot allow drug syndicates to use social media as a hunting ground to recruit, manipulate and expose young people to illegal drugs,” he said.

During a budget hearing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed full support for pending House measures seeking to impose a total ban on social media and online gaming platforms for children aged 13 and below, while regulating social media use among those aged 14 to 17.

Under the proposed measure, children aged 13 and below would be prohibited from using social media and online gaming platforms, while those aged 14 to 17 would be subject to regulations.

Santos said the Philippines is not alone in addressing the growing risks posed by social media to children, noting that governments in various countries have introduced or proposed restrictions aimed at protecting minors from potentially harmful and addictive online platforms.

The proposed measures were also prompted by separate school shooting incidents involving students in Zamboanga City, Tacloban City and Lian, Batangas.

While social media platforms officially prohibit the sale and promotion of illegal drugs, Santos said young users may still encounter drug dealers through online accounts, private messaging, and encrypted or less-visible digital channels.

He said drug enforcement authorities have reported evidence of drug-related activities taking place across major online platforms, particularly messaging applications widely used in the Philippines.

The growing use of social media for drug transactions has raised concerns that young people could gain access to illegal drugs without leaving their homes.

“Technology has made it easier for criminals to reach potential victims. A young person can be targeted, manipulated and eventually introduced to illegal drugs without realizing that he or she is already being drawn into a criminal network,” Santos, who is also Assistant Majority Floor Leader, said.

He said stronger safeguards are urgently needed to protect minors from exposure to drug-related content, online grooming, exploitation, cyberbullying and other dangerous activities.

“The fight against illegal drugs should not be limited to the streets. We must also confront the new methods being used by drug syndicates in cyberspace,” Santos said.

-Philippine News Agency