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

It’s not going to be simple, given how messy issues have been within the Philippine Congress

Will the Philippines observe?

All eyes have been on Australia because the yr started, after it turned the first nation on this planet to ban entry to social media of its residents underneath 16. Final week, Greece mentioned it can quickly announce a social media ban for youngsters underneath 15, whereas Spain is eyeing a ban for these underneath 16. The European Union can be taking a look at an formidable EU-wide ban.

The Philippines is contemplating taking the identical route, writes Gelo Gonzales. Is it the proper step? Learn extra about it right here.

It’s not going to be simple, gauging from the deluge of on-line assaults in opposition to Julie Inman Grant, head of Australia’s eSafety Fee that’s main the implementation of the ban. The blowback is no surprise. As Taiwan’s Audrey Tang mentioned at Rappler’s Social Good Summit final November, Huge Tech won’t ever select to guard customers as a result of the incentives deployed on its platforms exactly make customers weak. 

The pushback in opposition to Huge Tech is gaining momentum on different fronts as properly. In California, a landmark trial in opposition to Meta, TikTok, and YouTube is seen as a take a look at case for different lawsuits that may very well be filed on the premise of claims that the platforms are designed to get customers hooked on their content material. It’s social media’s “psychological well being reckoning.”

TikTok has already chosen to settle with the plaintiff — a 20-year-old girl — earlier than final week’s jury choice, BBC mentioned. Snapchat beforehand entered right into a settlement with the plaintiff, leaving Meta and YouTube on the dock, BBC added.

Given how messy issues have been in each homes of the Philippine Congress, we’ve no cause but to be optimistic about any rigorous dialogue that’s required of a essential and consequential coverage, equivalent to a social media ban on minors. Already, the continued hearings on the proposed anti-fake information payments are premised on some harmful assumptions, equivalent to taking a look at disinformation because the weapon of presidency “destabilizers” in addition to activists and journalists.

In in the present day’s actuality, our lawmakers are their very own destabilizers. The ruling coalition within the Senate foiled a coup final week, nevertheless it simply received an uneasy peace — given its slim majority and what Joey Salgado describes because the yr of dwelling dangerously for the Marcoses and Dutertes.

Within the Home, a committee junked the impeachment complaints in opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying they have been inadequate in substance. Will the committee set the identical inflexible requirements as soon as it tackles the impeachment complaints in opposition to Vice President Sara Duterte? What’s new in these complaints, anyway? Dwight de Leon experiences.

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Newsrooms in Southeast Asia assess the progress and challenges confronted by the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations this yr underneath the management of the Philippines. For one, Prak Chan Thul writes that the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand will take a look at ASEAN’s battle administration position. 

Jairo Bolledo explains why not even the Ombudsman can entry the Statements of Belongings, Liabilities, and Internet Price of lawmakers.

John Molo tackles the geng geng phenomenon — and whether or not Bonifacio International Metropolis has the proper to shoo away “geng gengs,” amongst different onerous questions. 

Gelo Gonzales places a highlight on how US President Donald Trump sustains energy by means of “narrative warfare,” based mostly on The Nerve’s analysis.

– Rappler.com

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