AS reported last week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, a measure that would be one of the toughest restrictions on social media outside of the world's authoritarian regimes. Australia has campaigned relentlessly over the past few years to fight some of the serious risks posed by social media, and the objective to protect young people is certainly understandable. However, the proposed new law is a step too far and should not be considered a model for similar action here in the Philippines. Rather, it should be considered a conversation starter for ideas about effective and practical protections that could be implemented here.
