[Rappler’s Best] Kicking out our kids off social media

Will the Philippines follow?

All eyes have been on Australia since the year began, after it became the first country in the world to ban access to social media of its citizens under 16. Last week, Greece said it will soon announce a social media ban for children under 15, while Spain is eyeing a ban for those under 16. The European Union is also looking at an ambitious EU-wide ban.

The Philippines is considering taking the same route, writes Gelo Gonzales. Is it the right step? Read more about it here.

It’s not going to be easy, gauging from the deluge of online attacks against Julie Inman Grant, head of Australia’s eSafety Commission that’s leading the implementation of the ban. The blowback is not surprising. As Taiwan’s Audrey Tang said at Rappler’s Social Good Summit last November, Big Tech will never choose to protect users because the incentives deployed on its platforms precisely make users vulnerable. 

The pushback against Big Tech is gaining momentum on other fronts as well. In California, a landmark trial against Meta, TikTok, and YouTube is seen as a test case for other lawsuits that could be filed on the basis of claims that the platforms are designed to get users addicted to their content. It’s social media’s “mental health reckoning.”

TikTok has already chosen to settle with the plaintiff — a 20-year-old woman — before last week’s jury selection, BBC said. Snapchat previously entered into a settlement with the plaintiff, leaving Meta and YouTube on the dock, BBC added.

Given how messy things have been in both houses of the Philippine Congress, we have no reason yet to be optimistic about any rigorous discussion that is required of a critical and consequential policy, such as a social media ban on minors. Already, the ongoing hearings on the proposed anti-fake news bills are premised on some dangerous assumptions, such as looking at disinformation as the weapon of government “destabilizers” as well as activists and journalists.

In today’s reality, our lawmakers are their own destabilizers. The ruling coalition in the Senate foiled a coup last week, but it just won an uneasy peace — given its slim majority and what Joey Salgado describes as the year of living dangerously for the Marcoses and Dutertes.

In the House, a committee junked the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying they were insufficient in substance. Will the committee set the same rigid standards once it tackles the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte? What’s new in these complaints, anyway? Dwight de Leon reports.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

Shay Du digs into how OnlyFans management agencies organize an assembly line of Filipino remote workers to produce porn videos and sell content on behalf of female models.

Newsrooms in Southeast Asia assess the progress and challenges faced by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year under the leadership of the Philippines. For one, Prak Chan Thul writes that the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand will test ASEAN’s conflict management role. 

Jairo Bolledo explains why not even the Ombudsman can access the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of lawmakers.

John Molo tackles the geng geng phenomenon — and whether Bonifacio Global City has the right to shoo away “geng gengs,” among other hard questions. 

Gelo Gonzales puts a spotlight on how US President Donald Trump sustains power through “narrative warfare,” based on The Nerve’s research.

‘Slam dunk’ case? The brutal killing of a female cop and her son

We piece the facts together regarding the killing of a policewoman and her eight-year-old son.

Why are Masungi caretakers opposing a wind energy project?

The proposed wind energy project is not the only one facing scrutiny in Rizal.

In Rappler’s town hall, Dumaguete shows up for truth, youth, and accountability

At Rappler’s #CorruptionWatch town hall, Dumagueteños talk about the future of advocacy and protest.

Franklin Drilon: The gentleman from Iloilo

Former Senate president Franklin M. Drilon launches Being Frank: A Memoir on Monday, February 9, at the Manila Polo Club — a firsthand look at the moments that have shaped his public life, and the nation’s.

Face card declined? Frasco’s image found in other government materials, too

Filipinos “troll” their tourism secretary.

– Rappler.com

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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.