House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III is pushing for the integration of mandatory digital literacy into the basic education curriculum, arguing that restricting children’s social media access must be paired with educating them on how to spot misinformation, dangerous content, and online exploitation.
Dy pointed out that protecting Filipino youth involves more than just setting boundaries, emphasizing that young people must be equipped with the tools to navigate digital spaces safely.
“Hindi po natin puwedeng i-asa sa pagbabawal lamang ang kaligtasan ng ating mga anak. If we teach our children how to read and write, in the age of social media, we must also equip them with the knowledge to recognize lies and misinformation on the internet,” the House leader explained.
He also highlighted that families, educators, and policymakers share a collective duty to steer children safely through the online world.
“Hindi natin maaaring ipaubaya sa teknolohiya ang pagpapalaki ng ating mga anak. Kasama sa laban na ito ang mga magulang, mga guro, at ang buong pamahalaan. Kapag iisa ang mensahe sa bahay at sa paaralan, mas magiging ligtas ang ating mga kabataan sa online world,” he added.
Dy’s recommendation coincides with ongoing efforts by a technical working group under the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, led by Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, which is consolidating various bills designed to regulate social media use among minors and bolster digital safeguards.
Among the primary measures being considered is House Bill No. 9965, or the proposed Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which was jointly introduced by Dy and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte’s 1st District.
The bill mandates that the Department of Information and Communications Technology collaborate with the Department of Education to embed a “Digital Literacy and Ethical Use of Social Media” instructional module within the K-to-12 program.
This curriculum intends to teach students how to analyze online material critically, comprehend how algorithms dictate what they see, report instances of cyberbullying and digital harassment, engage in responsible online communication, and maintain healthy screen time.
Dy raised concerns that the most severe risk of social media is not just individual pieces of content, but the automated systems that continuously curate a child’s feed.
“Ang pinakamalaking panganib ay hindi lamang kung ano ang nakikita ng ating mga kabataan sa social media- kundi kung ano ang paulit-ulit na pinipiling ipakita sa kanila ng mga algorithm,” Dy said, adding:
“Kaya dapat natin silang bigyan ng kaalaman at kakayahang maging mapanuri, mag-isip nang mabuti, at maunawaan kung paano naaapektuhan ng bawat scroll ang kanilang pananaw sa mundo.”
If passed into law, House Bill No. 9965 would bar children under the age of 13 from creating social media accounts. Meanwhile, teenagers aged 13 to 17 would require verified parental permission and oversight to use these platforms.
Additionally, the draft legislation includes provisions for ongoing digital safety workshops for teachers, alongside informational seminars for parents and students.
“Ang layunin ng panukalang ito ay hindi ang ilayo ang mga bata sa teknolohiya. Ang hangarin po natin ay tiyaking hindi sila magiging biktima nito,” the House leader said.