The Child Rights Network (CRN) criticized the Senate’s approval of a bill restricting social media access for minors below 18, warning that the measure would punish children for online harms they did not create.
In a statement exclusively provided to PhilSTAR Tech, CRN described the Senate’s approval of the measure as a setback for children’s rights.
“This is not protection. It is punishment. Children should not be punished for the failure of adults to keep them safe,” the group said.
The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2424, or the proposed Safe Media Access and Responsible Technology for Kids in Digital Spaces (SMART KIDS) Act, on third and final reading on Thursday, October 8, with 16 senators voting in favor and one against.
The measure seeks to prohibit minors below 18 from accessing digital platforms classified as high-risk, while requiring covered services to implement age-assurance mechanisms.
CRN argued that the restrictions would place the burden of addressing online harms on children rather than the technology platforms and individuals responsible for them.
The group warned that the proposed ban could allow platforms and online perpetrators to evade deeper questions of accountability.
“If the goal is to protect children, then regulate the platforms, address the harms, and hold those responsible accountable,” CRN said.
The network also questioned the Senate’s deliberation process, contrasting it with what it described as a more inclusive and consultative approach taken by the House of Representatives.
CRN said child rights organizations were given opportunities to amplify children’s voices during House deliberations on proposed online safety legislation.
The House is separately considering legislation that would impose age-based restrictions on social media access, including a prohibition on accounts for children below 13 and additional safeguards for older minors.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the lone senator who voted against the Senate measure, had also raised concerns about the potential impact of broad restrictions on children’s access to information and digital opportunities.
CRN maintained that efforts to protect minors from online risks should not come at the expense of their rights.
“Protection should empower children, not punish them,” the group said.
