UP President Angelo Jimenez served as a resource person at the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media’s hearing on Senate Bills Nos. 40, 185, 595, 601, and 1735, which seek to promote the safety of children and minors in the use of social media platforms.
Jimenez was joined by Associate Professor Maria Diosa Labiste, dean of the UP Diliman College of Media and Communication, Atty. Daniel Lising of the UP Law Center, and development psychologist Dr. Annalyn De Guzman-Capulong of the UP Diliman Department of Psychology at the committee hearing, Feb. 11.
Among the concerns Jimenez raised before the committee include the proportionality of suggested minimum age restrictions for social media registration and use, the proposed measures’ enforceability and the security of personal data collected, their coherence with existing legislation, and the urgent need to cultivate digital literacy, critical thinking, media education, mental health awareness, and parental engagement among all concerned stakeholders.
He also pledged UP’s readiness to assist the committee “through research and interdisciplinary expertise — from law and governance to psychology, education, public health, and data science.”
“We believe that evidence-based, constitutionally-sound legislation is both possible and necessary,” Jimenez said.
Screenshots from the Senate of the Philippines livestream.
