The Child Rights Network (CRN) has welcomed the latest House of Representatives version of the Children’s Social Media and Online Gaming Safety Bill, praising lawmakers for prioritizing platform accountability over a blanket social media ban.
However, the coalition flagged two critical provisions that it warns could infringe upon fundamental youth rights.
First, CRN strongly opposed the blanket parental consent requirement. The group pointed out that households are not a monolith and that assuming every child has accessible or non-abusive parents is dangerous.
Such a mandate could block minors from reaching life-saving emergency mechanisms during abuse or trafficking, while inadvertently driving tech-savvy youth toward false ages, borrowed accounts, or hazardous unregulated websites.
CRN stressed that maintaining a secure environment is the primary duty of tech platforms, not overburdened or potentially unavailable parents.
Second, the network pushed back against a proposed ban on short-form videos and reels. Arguing that toxic content—not the video format itself—is the true root problem, CRN emphasized that children and teens rely on short-format clips to learn, express themselves, and engage in vital public discussions.
The network urged legislators to refine the measure so that it protects minors effectively without stripping away their digital autonomy and broader rights. (Marjohara Tucay)
