Senate bill seeks social media ban for users under 16

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

(Pexels photo)

MANILA – A proposal seeking to ban children below 16 years old from accessing social media platforms has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said the measure aims to protect minors from harmful digital exposure and unsafe online environments.

“Panahon na upang protektahan ang ating mga kabataan mula sa pinsalang dulot ng social media. Huwag na nating hintaying lumala ang problema bago tayo umaksyon (It is time to protect our youth from the harm caused by social media. We should not wait for the problem to worsen before we act),” he said.

Filed as Senate Bill No. 2066 or the Social Media Safety for Children Act, the proposal seeks to prohibit minors under 16 from registering, accessing, or maintaining accounts on social media platforms.

Under the measure, platform providers will be required to implement age and identity verification systems, conduct regular audits to detect and deactivate accounts of underage users, and establish reporting and response mechanisms to prevent violations.

The bill also mandates safeguards to prevent circumvention of age restrictions, including controls on duplicate or reactivated accounts, as well as tools to support parental supervision and responsible use.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Privacy Commission, will be tasked to craft the implementing rules within 90 days upon the law’s effectivity.

The proposal follows similar moves abroad, including Australia’s law setting a minimum age for social media use, as well as restrictions implemented in Indonesia.

Other senators have filed measures seeking to regulate minors’ use of social media, including proposals to impose minimum age requirements, require parental consent, and strengthen safeguards against online harm.