Senator Gatchalian seeks Philippines social media ban for youths under 16

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed a bill that prohibits children in the Philippines under 16 years of age from registering, accessing, or maintaining accounts on any social media platform.

“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,” said Gatchalian as he filed Social Media Safety for Children Act or Senate Bill No. 2066. 

According to a news release of the Senate of the Philippines, Gatchalian's measure follows the lead of several countries that have already imposed similar bans.

Australia was the first to do so with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age Act 2024), which took effect in December 2025.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia was the first to ban social media access for children under 16.

Under Gatchalian's proposed legislation, social media platform providers will be required to implement several new safeguards, including:

• Adopting age and identity verification systems;

• Conducting regular audits to deactivate accounts of age-restricted users, and

• Establishing reporting and response mechanisms for underage access.

"The DICT, in coordination with the DSWD, DepEd, NTC, NPC, and other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations within ninety days after the effectivity of this Act," the news release said.

-Paraluman News