House eyes social media ban for children 13 and below amid drug recruitment fears

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 28, 2026

Photo Courtesy: House of Representatives/Facebook

PHILIPPINE S —The House of Representatives is drafting measures that would ban children aged 13 and below from accessing social media and online gaming platforms, while regulating social media use among those aged 14 to 17.

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, raised concerns over the reported use of social media by drug syndicates to target and recruit young people.

Santos said drug groups are allegedly using platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram to create fake accounts, communicate with potential recruits and promote illegal drugs through coded language and deceptive 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,” Santos said.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has also expressed support for the proposed restrictions, which would prohibit children 13 and below from using social media and online gaming platforms and regulate access for teenagers aged 14 to 17.

Santos said the measures are also intended to shield minors from online grooming, exploitation, cyberbullying and other harmful activities.

He warned that drug transactions can now take place through social media accounts, private messages and encrypted channels, allowing criminal groups to reach potential victims without them 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 said.

The proposed measures come amid heightened concerns over youth safety following separate school shooting incidents in Zamboanga City, Tacloban City and Lian, Batangas.

Santos stressed that the fight against illegal drugs must also extend into cyberspace.

“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,” he said.

With lawmakers pushing for stricter digital safeguards, the debate now centers on how to protect children online while keeping them from becoming easy targets for criminal networks.