Senator Gatchalian pushes Philippine social media ban for minors

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian renewed his call to prohibit minors under 16 from accessing social media in the Philippines, following Indonesia’s implementation of a similar restriction.

The proposal also comes as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) earlier urged telecommunications companies to prepare for a potential nationwide restriction on Roblox, citing concerns over online exploitation and harmful content targeting children.

Gatchalian’s position is further reinforced by a ruling from a Los Angeles jury, which found YouTube and Meta liable in connection with cases involving childhood social media addiction.

He also pointed to findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, which showed that every additional hour spent by 15-year-old Filipino students on digital devices for leisure corresponded to a four-point decline in their math performance.

“Huwag na nating hayaang lumala pa ang problema bago tayo kumilos,” said Gatchalian. 

In 2024, Australia became the first country worldwide to implement a ban on social media use among minors under 16, with the policy taking full effect in December 2025.

Indonesia recently became the first Southeast Asian country to impose such a ban, barring users below 16 from creating accounts on platforms classified as “high-risk,” including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Roblox.

The Indonesian government said the move aims to address growing concerns over online exploitation, harmful content, and social media addiction among children, as well as its impact on mental health and academic performance.

Authorities are working with technology firms and regulators to ensure compliance, with possible penalties for platforms that fail to enforce the rules.