‘Socmed blanket ban not solution to youth safety’
The Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) argues that a blanket social media ban for minors is ineffective at preventing youth violence. Instead, they advocate for a comprehensive strategy involving mental health support, digital literacy, and platform safety design.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing debate between restrictive legislative measures and holistic public health approaches to child safety in the digital age.
MANILA, Philippines - A blanket ban on social media for children under 18 will not prevent incidents of youth-related violence, including school shootings, the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) said.
Urging the government to adopt a comprehensive approach to protecting young people, the group said incidents of school violence are complex issues with multiple contributing factors beyond the digital space, stressing that preventing violence requires mental health support and other interventions.
"A blanket ban is a non-solution to keeping young people safe. Preventing violence requires a comprehensive approach that includes mental health support, safe school environments, responsible online platforms and early identification and intervention," PMHA national executive director Dr. Carolina Uno-Rayco said in a statement.
PMHA stressed that protecting young people means keeping them safe while respecting their right to connect, participate, learn and engage with others both online and offline.
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