DepEd cannot police kids’ online habits

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has urged parents to help regulate their children’s social media use, saying the Department of Education (DepEd) cannot enforce restrictions on students once they leave school.

Angara said DepEd prohibits students from using social media applications on school premises but has no control over their online activities at home.

“We cannot control everything. So we prohibit the use of those apps inside schools. But once students leave school and return to their respective homes, we cannot control them, of course,” Angara told reporters during the Philippine Conference on Children and Media.

He said DepEd welcomed proposed legislation restricting minors’ access to social media, citing the risks of prolonged exposure to digital platforms, including depression and anxiety.

Angara said the department was also involving parents through its Kaagapay program, which brings families and schools together to discuss responsible social media use and the dangers of excessive screen exposure.

“Even in schools, we talk to parents about the proper use of social media and the dangers of overexposure to it,” he said, urging families to limit cellphone use during shared activities, particularly mealtimes, and encourage face-to-face conversations.

He also warned that children’s exposure to negative influences could have serious consequences, citing mental health disorders, depression and suicide.