Watchdog calls for stronger social media controls to shield minors

Shielding Minors Why Watchdog Calls for Stronger Social Media Controls
Controls

As governments in Asia consider stricter controls on social media, advocate
advocates are urging greater oversight to protect minors from the risks of 
unregulated digital spaces.

In Thailand, authorities have focused on mandatory 24-hour takedowns of ill
illegal content and are weighing measures to restrict social media access f
for children under 16 without parental consent. The aim is to curb cyberbul
cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate material.

Dr. Michael Aragon, founder and chairman of the Kapisanan ng Social Media B
Broadcasters ng Pilipinas, Inc. (KSMBPI), is urging the government to stren
strengthen control over social media platforms. The rapid expansion of dig
digital platforms has created a 'new world' where communication is instant 
and largely unregulated, leaving minors vulnerable to exploitation, misinfo
misinformation, and online abuse, Aragon said in an interview with The Man
Manila Times.

KSMBPI's strategy focuses on education and self-regulation. Its training pr
programs teach participants how to produce content responsibly, uphold ethi
ethical standards, verify information, and navigate legal frameworks such a
as libel and data privacy laws. These are not just technical skills, Arag
Aragon emphasized. We are teaching responsibility – how to think before po
posting, how to protect others, and how to ensure that what is shared contr
contributes positively to society.

KSMBPI members, who come from diverse sectors including students, professio
professionals, and community workers, are encouraged to act as 'frontliners
'frontliners' in monitoring online content within their communities. The gr
group aims to build a nationwide network of trained social media practition
practitioners, creating a decentralized yet coordinated watchdog system.

If we have trained individuals in every barangay, they can help ensure tha
that information circulating online is accurate and safe, especially for ou
our children, Aragon said. He stressed that the organization's approach do
does not seek to curtail freedom of expression. We are not here to silence
silence anyone, he said. We are here to strengthen the fourth estate by m
making it ethical, informed, and protective of the public, especially the y
youth.

In conclusion, as governments and advocates work together to address the ri
risks posed by social media, KSMBPI's approach offers a wise solution – one
one that balances freedom of expression with responsibility and accountabil
accountability. By teaching minors and online content creators how to produ
produce and consume digital information responsibly, we can shield them fro
from harm and promote a safer, more informed online environment.

Keywords social media controls, minor protection, online safety, educa
education, self-regulation, freedom of expression

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.