PH Senate to tackle social media ban for minors as session resumes

Senate President Win Gatchalian on Thursday committed to prioritizing legislation barring minors from social media when Congress resumes session, citing the growing international movement to shield children from online harm.

“With France joining the growing number of countries that have banned social media for minors, we can no longer afford to be left behind,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

France’s parliament approved on July 21 a law prohibiting children below 15 from opening social media accounts beginning Sept. 1, 2026.

Platforms will be given four more months to close existing accounts belonging to underage users and will be required to introduce government-approved age-verification systems.

Australia was the first country to enforce a nationwide minimum age for social media accounts.

Since Dec. 10, 2025, covered platforms have been required to take reasonable steps to prevent children below 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.

About 4.7 million under-16 accounts were removed shortly after the restrictions took effect, according to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.

Malaysia has also begun preventing children below 16 from registering social media accounts, while several other countries are considering legislation that would impose similar age limits and verification requirements.

Gatchalian said these measures reflect an emerging recognition that unrestricted social media exposure places children’s mental health, safety and overall well-being at risk.

“Sa pagbabalik-sesyon ng Kongreso, bibigyang prayoridad ng Senado ang panukalang batas na ipagbawal ang paggamit ng social media sa mga menor de edad (When Congress resumes session, the Senate will prioritize the proposed measure banning minors from using social media),” he said.

“Hindi na natin ito dapat ipagpaliban dahil ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan ang nakataya dito (We should no longer delay this because the future of our youth is at stake),” he added.

-Philippine News Agency