Student leaders on Wednesday warned that a proposed blanket social media ban for Filipinos under 18 could widen educational inequalities by limiting access to learning resources, academic communities and civic discussions, calling instead for stronger online safeguards and accountability for perpetrators.
The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) raised the concern during a press conference titled “Ban Predators, Ban Groomers, Not Learners” in Quezon City, where student representatives from universities and secondary schools opposed restricting young people’s access to digital platforms.
“For many young people, social media extends learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. Social media helps us stay informed, connect with others, and find learning opportunities,” SCAP Under-Secretary-General Edrianna Villaruz said in a statement.
The group acknowledged risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, online sexual exploitation, misinformation and scams, but said a blanket ban would penalize young users rather than address the people and systems responsible for online harm.
“If a predator is the problem, go after the predator. Don’t shut the door on millions of learners,” Ms. Villaruz said.
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Public Administration Student Council President Joahna Dela Cruz said social media provides students access to educational materials, information and discussions on socioeconomic and political issues.
She warned that restrictions could further disadvantage students who rely on digital platforms to obtain learning materials and educational updates, particularly those with limited access to gadgets and stable internet connections.
“We should not have to choose between being safe and being educated. We deserve both,” Ms. Dela Cruz said.
She called for stronger safeguards against online exploitation and harassment, as well as greater accountability for those who abuse digital platforms.
“The solution to online abuse should be to eliminate the threats, not to eliminate the limited opportunities available to us learners,” she said.
Student leaders also questioned the lack of youth participation in policymaking.
Pasig student leader and Regional Federation of Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) of the National Capital Region President Eko Xander F. Quizon said young people should be consulted on decisions that directly affect them.
“Protection without participation is mere tokenism,” Mr. Quizon said, arguing that restricting youth access to social media could also limit their civic engagement and opportunities to develop communication and critical-thinking skills.
He cited Pasig City’s local school board, where a student representative serves as an honorary member, as an example of how young people can participate in local governance and education decisions.
Batasan Hills National High School Supreme Secondary Learner Government Public Information Officer Nina Dorlones said online safety policies should hold perpetrators accountable instead of restricting learners.
“What should be rejected and prohibited are those who deceive and harm others, not young people who simply want to learn and express themselves,” Ms. Dorlones said in Filipino during the press conference.
She added that a social media ban would not address the root causes of online abuse and could deprive students of tools for education, collaboration and advocacy.
“The wrongdoing lies with the abuser, never with the victim,” she said in Filipino during the press conference.
Adamson University AdU-Pulitika President Jazeerah Baluso said online safety should involve parents, schools, government and technology companies, rather than placing the burden on young users alone.
She cited constitutional provisions on freedom of expression, access to information and the youth’s role in nation-building, saying these rights underscored the importance of balancing protection with participation.
Ms. Baluso also pointed to social media algorithms that influence the content young people see, calling for stronger regulation of platforms and their recommendation systems.
“We cannot expect the youth to protect themselves from systems designed by companies with far greater technological knowledge and resources than they possess,” she said.
SCAP proposed a five-point agenda that includes protecting children without punishing responsible young users, preserving social media as a learning space, strengthening law enforcement and reporting systems against online predators, holding platforms accountable for privacy and content moderation, and investing in digital literacy.
The group called on lawmakers, government agencies and technology companies to include young people in developing online safety policies.
“Protect the youth, hold abusers accountable, and preserve opportunities for every Filipino student,” Ms. Villaruz said. “Nothing about us, without us.” — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba