SENATE BILL PUSHES FOR AGE-16 LIMIT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed Senate Bill No. 2066 or the Social Media Safety for Children Act seeking to ban users below 16 years old from accessing social media platforms.

Gatchalian on Friday underscored the need for legislation protecting minors from unsafe digital 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," he said.

The measure prohibits children under 16 from registering, accessing, or maintaining social media accounts—thus requiring platform providers to implement age and identity verification systems.

Social media platforms are also mandated to conduct regular audits to detect and deactivate accounts of restricted users, prevent circumvention of age restrictions, and establish reporting and response mechanisms for underage use.

Gatchalian also proposed to require online platforms to ensure that their platform design promotes online safety and prevents possible social media addiction.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is the designated implementing agency of the measure, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Privacy Commission.

The Social Media Safety for Children Act follows similar legislations in Australia, which set a minimum age for social media usage, and Indonesia, for being the first Southeast Asian country to ban access for minors under 16.