MANILA, Philippines — A call for Filipino youngsters to put down their phones and get moving is gaining attention after Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go urged the youth to spend less time on social media and gadgets and devote more time to sports and physical activities.
Go, who chairs the Senate committees on Sports and Youth, made the appeal amid concerns over the growing influence of social media on young Filipinos and its potential impact on their behavior, personality and overall well-being.
His message was not a call to ban social media or technology.
Instead, Go encouraged young people to find a healthier balance between screen time and activities that keep them physically active.
“Mas dapat nating hikayatin ang mga kabataan na lumabas, maglaro, at mag-sports kaysa buong araw na nakatutok sa social media at gadgets,” Go said, emphasizing the importance of spending more time on courts, fields and playgrounds.
Why Go is pushing sports over excessive screen time
The senator raised the issue during a Senate hearing on August 20 in connection with concerns surrounding the recent shooting in Zamboanga City that claimed the lives of several students.
In an earlier report on the hearing, Bombo Radyo said Go expressed concern over the increasing influence of social media in shaping the behavior and personality of Filipino youth. He argued that parents and lawmakers should not ignore how excessive gadget and social-media use could affect the younger generation.
Go’s recommendation was to encourage young people to become more physically active, including through sports and fitness activities.
The senator said sports can provide young people with a positive outlet while helping develop discipline, perseverance, teamwork and resilience—qualities that can extend beyond competition and into everyday life.
“Ma-hook sa sports, huwag sa social media”
The message has also been echoed in coverage and social-media posts surrounding the Senate hearing, with the phrase “Ma-hook sa sports, huwag sa social media” emerging as a concise summary of Go’s appeal to young Filipinos. GMA News also carried the remarks under the same theme.
Go’s position is consistent with his broader advocacy for grassroots sports and increased access to sporting opportunities for children and young people.
Senate records show that Go has continued serving as chairman of the Senate committees on Sports and Youth in the 20th Congress.
Sports as more than competition
For Go, sports should not be viewed solely as a pathway to becoming a professional or competitive athlete.
Regular physical activity can also give young people an avenue for developing healthy routines, social connections and discipline.
This broader approach is reflected in Senate measures and resolutions connected to youth sports. A Senate resolution introduced by Go, for example, cited the constitutional mandate to promote physical education and sports programs as part of developing a healthy and alert citizenry.
The senator has also previously pushed legislation establishing the National Academy of Sports for high school students, with the measure emphasizing physical, intellectual and social development alongside athletic training.
The bigger issue: finding balance
Go’s latest remarks come as concerns about young people’s relationship with social media continue to surface in the Philippines.
Separate from Go’s sports advocacy, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has been pushing a proposed measure that would restrict social-media access for children below 16, citing concerns about harmful online content and children’s safety. That proposal is separate from Go’s latest call for young people to reduce screen time.
The distinction is important: Go’s latest statement is an appeal for healthier habits, not an announcement of a new social-media prohibition.
His message is essentially a challenge to young Filipinos—and the adults guiding them—to make room for activities away from their screens.
More time on the court, field or playground, he argued, could mean less time spent glued to gadgets and social-media feeds.
And as the debate over young people’s digital habits continues, one question remains: Will Filipino families be able to turn that call for balance into a daily habit?
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