Padilla warns youth of social media’s harmful effects: TikTok, others can pollute your minds

UPDATING THE MTRCB’s MANDATE: Sen. Robin Padilla presides over the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media Thursday, February 23, 2023 to review the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Be wary of content published on Tiktok, Facebook, and other social media applications as these can “pollute” the minds of the youth, Senator Robin Padilla warned on Thursday.

During the Senate committee on public information and mass media hearing, which Padilla chairs, he recounted a time when his wife borrowed his phone and pornography popped up on the screen.

“Sa Facebook, minsan ito nangyari sa akin, nahiya ako sa asawa ko. Minsan sabi niya, ‘pahiram naman ako ng [phone] mo, may hahanapin lang ako sa Facebook.’ Biglang lumabas du’n sa [screen] ko may porno. Nakakahiya baka akala ng asawa ko nanonood ako niyan. Biglang lumalabas lang,” Padilla narrated.

(On Facebook, this happened to me, I was ashamed. My wife said, “can I borrow your phone? I will just look for something.” Pornography suddenly popped up on the screen. I was embarrassed that my wife would think I was watching that. It just popped up.)

He cited that similar contents are available on Tiktok, which is popular among the youth.

“Itong Tiktok, alam ko sa kanila [China] ‘to. Ang gusto ko lamang sabihin, mag-ingat tayo dito kasi pag-pollute ito ng utak ng ating mga bata,” Padilla said.

(I know Tiktok is from China. What I wanted to say is we should be careful because these can pollute the minds of children.)

“‘Wag sana tayo magpabaya sa mga ganitong usapin. Baka akala nila ganito lang ‘to, pero hindi po. Sa usapin po ng kabataan, ang pinag-uusapan, hindi lang po droga ang pwedeng sumira sa pag-iisip ng ating kabataan pati po sa ganito,” he added.

(Let us not be negligent on these issues. You may think of it lightly, but it’s not. When we’re talking of the youth, it’s not just drugs that can destroy their minds, these as well.)

Padilla then asked the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) if they can review social media contents.

“Kapag po ibinigay ang mandato sa amin ng legislators, ito po ay kailangan naming kayanin ngunit hihingi po kami ng karagdagang manpower, assistance sa iba’t ibang ahensya katulad ng DICT at ng NTC dahil hindi po kakayanin ng mag-isa ng MTRCB at karagdagan na mga board members na tutulong sa pag-review. Ibig sabihin po niyan, tataas po ang budget na aming hihingin,” MTRCB chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio responded.

(If the mandate would be given to us, we would have to handle it but we will ask for additional manpower and assistance from different agencies such as DICT and NTC because the MTRCB cannot handle it alone, also more board members that will help in the review. It means we will need a bigger budget.)

MTRCB’s mandate only covers the regulation of movies, television programs, and publicity materials.

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