The proposal to regulate or ban social media use by minors is supposedly aimed to protect the youth, but I guess students and youth organizations, as well as concerned parents, would be putting up a big fight against it.

If a ban is imposed, who will teach the boomers and seniors, and who will they ask for technical support? Right now, youngsters and young ones perform this valuable service in families, schools and businesses.

Taking away social media access from young Filipinos would be a huge step backward to the cause of promoting digital connectivity. Social media access helped keep the educational system running throughout the pandemic. We owe it to young people to keep this access open and to expand it.

Actually, what the government should be doing is to promote further access. Not regulation, but introduction of education and student plans for mobile data and broadband access. Such discounted internet access plans have long been made available to students in other countries. There’s no reason why Filipino students cannot enjoy the same.

Government is actually one of the biggest customers of telcos and internet service providers. It is in a position to negotiate better, cheaper and faster internet connection for public sector employees, public school teachers and especially students.

The lack of special discounts for students and teachers is a matter that has been ignored by the National Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lawmakers should future-proof public schools from elementary to university levels, and this starts with guaranteeing internet access. Science and technology professionals are expected to stand solidly behind young people who wish to join their ranks. They would not want elementary and high school graduates who are idiots and ignoramuses about social media and the internet.

It is undeniable that the internet and the digital space have become bulwarks of problems ranging from disinformation, bullying, online gambling, online scams, identity theft, phishing and hacking. Children and youngsters are not involved in these activities. If it is the adults who do these harmful or illegal activities, why should it be the minors whose access would be regulated?

Each of those problems should be addressed. Government should crack down on fake news peddlers, bullies, gambling companies, identity thieves, phishers and hackers. This is the best way to educate users of all ages, and not to penalize them with yet another draconian measure.

The last time people were told to do something drastic was when the government introduced SIM registration. The government promised that the heaven will open, and hell would eat the scammers alive. This did not happen. This draconian measure has been made practically useless by scammers’ use of superior technology including devices that spoof or mimic cell towers, or pretend to be coming from legitimate companies.

The proposal to ban minors’ use of social media is no different.

It is also easy to foresee its unintended consequences.

How would children and youngsters keep in touch with their parents? How would they be able to contact police and fire during emergencies?

Overseas Filipino workers should also weigh in on this. Such a ban would cut their direct connection to their children and grandchildren.

Educators and teachers at all levels should also be asked about the impact of such a ban on them, as well as the standing of Filipino students via-a-vis their counterparts worldwide. Is cutting them off from the internet smart or stupid?

If or when Congress deliberates on this proposal, it would be a beautiful opportunity for everyone to speak and for the lawmakers to listen.