Children must learn to question online content and recognize digital risks at an earlier age as social media increasingly shapes their behavior, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Monday, calling for stronger regulations and more adaptive school policies to protect young learners.
Speaking at the Philippine Conference on Children and Media 2026 in Quezon City, Angara said education programs must keep pace with the media platforms children use today rather than rely on approaches designed for previous generations.
“Are we preparing our learners for the media environment they actually inhabit today? Or are we preparing them for the environment we grew up with? We must be flexible enough to adopt our curriculum, our teaching strategies, and our policies as the media evolves,” he said.
“The line between traditional and social media is becoming increasingly blurred, and our policies must be flexible enough to recognize that reality.”
Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) has restricted the use of mobile phones and electronic gadgets within school premises under DepEd Order No. 006, series of 2026.
The department also includes Media and Information Literacy in the basic education curriculum, but Angara said the lessons should reach students at younger ages.
“We teach it, I think, in high school. But I think it’s time to bring it much earlier kasi ‘yung mga bata pa lang e (because those who are younger) know much more about social media,” he said.
He urged educators, parents and other stakeholders to teach children how to assess online information and exercise judgment before sharing content.
“Teach them how to question what they see, verify what they hear, and to think critically about what they share,” Angara said.
“The goal is not simply to keep technology out of the classroom; it is also to ensure that when technology enters the classroom, learning remains in control, not entertainment and not the algorithms that big companies want our children to follow.”
Beyond classroom measures, Angara said lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate were pursuing reforms to protect children across digital platforms, including measures addressing online grooming and recruitment into violent extremist networks.
He cited reports that four children in conflict with the law involved in a recent school shooting incident were associated with online networks.
“Parang fraternity siya, parang (It seems like a fraternity, it seems like) they are subjected to rites of passage, they are welcomed, and they are told that if they do not perform acts of violence, they will not be accepted, or not be promoted within the group,” he said.
Angara also called on parents to monitor their children’s online activities and establish appropriate boundaries, saying supervision is particularly important in digital spaces where harmful influences can go unnoticed.
“Ironically, we left them on their devices, on social media. Meaning, where we should be less liberal and more discerning and discriminating in our supervision, which is the online world, is precisely where we fell short. But of course, it’s not too late,” he said.
He said parental involvement was crucial as children face increasing exposure to digital stimulation and concerns involving violence, anxiety and depression.
The National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), which organized the conference, aims to bring together policymakers, researchers, educators, child protection advocates, media industry representatives, parents and learners to promote developmentally appropriate television and media content for children.
The conference began Sunday and will run until Oct. 28 at Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City.
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