A proposal seeking to prohibit children under 16 years old from accessing social media platforms has been filed in the Senate. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian introduced the measure on Friday, April 24, 2026, emphasizing the need to protect minors from harmful digital exposure and unsafe online environments.
Social Media Safety for Children Act
Filed as Senate Bill No. 2066, or the Social Media Safety for Children Act, the proposal aims to ban minors under 16 from registering, accessing, or maintaining accounts on social media platforms. “It’s time to protect our youth from the harm caused by social media. We should not wait for the problem to worsen before we act,” Gatchalian said in Tagalog.
Requirements for Platform Providers
Under the measure, social media platforms would be required to implement age and identity verification systems. They must also conduct regular audits to detect and deactivate accounts of underage users. Additionally, platforms need to establish reporting and response mechanisms to prevent violations.
Circumvention Safeguards
The bill mandates safeguards to prevent circumvention of age restrictions, including controls on duplicate or reactivated accounts. It also calls for tools to support parental supervision and promote responsible use of social media.
Implementing Rules
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 after the law takes effect.
International Precedents
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 also 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.
