Globe expressed support for the National Center for Mental Health's (NCMH) call for safer and supervised social media use among children, reinforcing its advocacy for stronger platform safeguards, responsible parenting, and digital literacy to create safer digital spaces for young Filipinos. The company believes protecting children online requires a whole-of-society approach that brings together families, schools, government, technology platforms, and communities to help young people navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
NCMH Medical Center Chief and psychiatrist Dr. Noel Reyes shared the agency's perspective during the recent Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing on proposals regulating children's access to social media. Reyes said experiences from countries implementing social media bans suggest that outright restrictions may also disadvantage young people who use digital platforms responsibly for communication, education, and other productive purposes. He emphasized that social media should be used productively under appropriate supervision, recognizing its value in learning, communication, and healthy social connection.
Globe said the NCMH's position reinforces the importance of protecting children from online harm while preserving technology's educational and developmental benefits through evidence-based policies and shared responsibility.
"The National Center for Mental Health's position reinforces the importance of creating safer digital environments that protect children while allowing them to benefit from technology's role in learning, communication, and personal development," said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe General Counsel. "Keeping children safe online requires stronger platform safeguards, effective regulation, responsible parenting, and digital citizenship education working together. These measures provide more sustainable protection than relying on any single intervention."
Globe said that this approach is consistent with guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), which recognizes that digital technologies offer significant benefits for children's learning, development, and well-being while calling for stronger safeguards, age-appropriate design, and digital literacy to help minimize online risks.
The company also acknowledged the concerns raised by child health experts during the hearing on the risks of excessive and unsupervised social media use among children, including its potential impact on mental health and development. Globe believes these findings reinforce the need for stronger safeguards, responsible parenting, and digital literacy to help young people navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly.
Globe likewise welcomed House Committee on Basic Education Chairperson and Pasig Representative Roman Romulo's position that effective regulation is a more practical approach than an outright ban. Globe believes lasting child online protection requires collaboration among government, parents, educators, technology companies, and communities.
This reflects Globe's broader advocacy for responsible technology use. Earlier, the company supported the Department of Education's efforts to promote responsible gadget use in schools. Through its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), Globe equips students, parents, teachers, and community leaders with practical skills in digital citizenship, cybersecurity, cyberbullying prevention, media and information literacy, responsible AI use, and online safety.
Globe remains committed to working with other stakeholders to strengthen child online protection while empowering young Filipinos to learn, create, and participate safely and responsibly in the digital world.
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