As lawmakers debate proposals to ban children under 16 from using social media, telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. is urging leaders to favor regulation, digital literacy, and parental oversight over blanket bans.

Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, chair of the House technical working group reviewing the proposed measures, said regulation offers a more practical path than an aggressive total ban, stressing the crucial role parents play in supervising their children’s internet use.

Globe backed the stance, emphasizing that protecting young Filipinos from online risks requires a coordinated effort among families, educators, government agencies, and technology platforms.

"Keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility," said Froilan Castelo, general counsel at Globe.

"Protecting young people requires stronger platform safeguards, responsible digital citizenship, parental guidance, and continued collaboration among families, schools, government, and industry."

Castelo cited that technology plays an essential role in how youth learn and build connections, adding that safety efforts must focus on equipping young users with the skills to navigate the digital world responsibly rather than cutting off access entirely.

The telecom operator highlighted that many digital platforms already offer safety tools, including age restrictions, parental controls, content moderation, and reporting mechanisms.

Globe urged tech providers to continue embedding safety-by-design features without stripping away the educational and creative opportunities digital platforms offer.

Globe's position mirrors concerns raised by civil society and business groups domestically and abroad.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines warned that an outright ban could drive children toward unregulated, riskier online environments.

Internationally, Amnesty International UK characterized social media ban proposals for under-16s as "the right diagnosis, but wrong prescription," advocating instead for strict platform accountability and safer default design standards.

Globe reaffirmed its ongoing digital safety initiatives, including support for the Department of Education's guidelines on responsible gadget use in schools.

Through its Digital Thumbprint Program and local partnerships, the company continues to deliver digital literacy, cybersecurity, and media information training to students, parents, and educators across the country.