Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is poised to endorse a proposal aimed at regulating minors' use of social media platforms, particularly if these platforms are found to adversely affect mental health, as communicated by Malaca±ang on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro affirmed that Senator Panfilo Lacson's proposed legislation to regulate minors' access to social media and online platforms is a positive step to shield young individuals from the detrimental effects of excessive screen time. Castro emphasized that if social media usage is indeed linked to mental health issues, President Marcos would support the initiative, asserting that it benefits the nation and, most importantly, the youth.

Furthermore, Castro mentioned that President Marcos is open to backing any proposals deemed beneficial for the welfare of the country's citizens, particularly young people. The proposed bill by Lacson stems from studies indicating that excessive social media use can lead to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

The Council for the Welfare of Children has reported that one in three Filipino children, aged 0 to 18, uses the internet. Complementing this, the National ICT Household Survey disclosed that 60 percent of children aged 10 to 17 not only have internet access but are also active users.

Lacson's measure proposes to restrict minors from accessing social media services and requires platforms to implement steps and age verification processes to prevent underage users from registering or remaining on these platforms. The bill also necessitates that platform providers ensure that collected data is "limited, secure, and retained only for the period necessary to fulfill its intended lawful purpose," with users being "clearly informed of the purpose and scope of data collection, including their rights."