By Leonel Abasola
MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Wednesday he is studying the possibility of banning minors on social media following reports from the police that they have thwarted an alleged plan of a group of teenagers to stage a school attack.
In a statement, Gatchalian said the foiled plot should serve as a wake-up call.
“It is alarming that an online gaming community may have influenced these youths, highlighting the dangers of unchecked digital spaces,” he said.
“Equally concerning is the state of students’ mental health, underscoring the need for stronger school-based support systems.”
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is now coordinating with Internet service providers (ISPs) after it caught seven children in Laguna allegedly planning a mass shooting.
The children, all aged 15, reportedly met an unidentified individual online last January who influenced them to do the mass shooting and instructed them to go to another platform to acquire guns.
ACG operatives were able to track them online and arrested them before they could purchase the weapons.
They have been under the custody of the social welfare office since last month.
Gatchalian said he will file a bill banning social media use for minors aged 16 and below, a move that follows the examples of countries like Australia, Denmark, and Norway.
“Huwag na nating hintaying lumala ang problemang ito ng mga kabataan bago tayo kumilos (Let us not wait for this problem with the youth to worsen before we act),” he said. (PNA)
