LAS Piñas Lone District Rep. Mark Anthony Santos is pushing for measures to prohibit children below 14 years old from accessing social media platforms, citing growing concerns over the reported use of Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and other online platforms by drug syndicates to recruit and target young people.
Santos said drug groups are increasingly exploiting social media by creating fake identities and accounts to conceal their activities, communicate with potential recruits and allegedly market illegal drugs through 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,” said Santos, who was recently designated chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
During a budget hearing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed full support for pending measures in the House that would 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.
Santos said the Philippines is not alone in confronting 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.
He also warned that the drug trade is increasingly finding its way into the digital space.
While social media platforms officially prohibit the sale and promotion of illegal drugs, Santos said young users can 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 can potentially access illegal drugs without ever having to leave 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,” said Santos, who is also assistant majority floor leader.
He said stronger safeguards are urgently needed to prevent minors from being exposed 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.
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