Gatchalian renews push for social media ban for minors after Tacloban shooting

National

SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian renewed his call to ban minors from using social media following the recent school shooting in Tacloban City, citing concerns over the influence of online content on minors.

“The influence of social media on children has become extremely strong. Many young people become addicted to social media and violent games, and many studies have shown that these can influence their thinking,” Gatchalian said in an interview with dzBB, as cited by Philstar.

Gatchalian pushed for the passage of the proposed Social Media Safety for Children Act, which seeks to restrict social media access for children under 16. He said excessive use of social media and exposure to violent content may contribute to mental health issues, online exploitation, and aggressive behavior among young people.

The senator’s statement came after reports that the 14-year old suspect in the Tacloban shooting had played the violent online game Gorebox, which was later banned by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). The incident left three students dead and 20 others wounded.

Gatchalian also called for the deployment of additional guidance counselors and security personnel in schools. He likewise emphasized the role of parents in guiding and supervising their children.

Following the shooting, calls for tighter school security.(Angel Mae G. Antolijao, UP Cebu COMM Intern)