Philippine lower house approves bill restricting minors’ social media access

The Philippine House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would restrict minors under 13 from accessing social media platforms, following the Senate's approval of a similar measure. This move comes as concern grows over the potential negative effects of social media on children's health and safety.

The legislation is expected to face reconciliation between the two chambers before being submitted for presidential approval. This development follows a series of school shootings in the Philippines since June, reigniting debate about children's access to social media and online content. Tragically, a 16-year-old student killed two classmates before taking his own life in one incident, while another student livestreamed his shooting of a classmate before dying by his own hand in August.

Despite social media violence being relatively rare in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed concerns that a blanket ban could lead to children hiding their online activities, making them vulnerable to grooming and abuse. The Senate's version is more stringent than the draft passed by the lower house, prohibiting anyone under 18 from creating social media accounts.

Major tech companies, including TikTok, YouTube's Alphabet, and Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook and Instagram), have yet to comment on the bill's passage. Neighboring Malaysia began barring under-16s from registering on social media platforms in June, with a deadline of January 2027 for platforms to implement age verification measures.

Indonesia, meanwhile, issued a regulation in March requiring high-risk social media firms to deactivate accounts of children under 16, which has affected platforms like X, Instagram, and Roblox. So far, TikTok has deactivated around 9 million accounts of children under 16 in Indonesia, while Meta has blocked 85,000 Instagram and 99,000 Facebook accounts.