How School Violence Catalyzed Philippine Lawmakers to Crack Down on Kids’ Social Media Use
Both chambers of the Philippine Congress filed bills in the wake of deadly school incidents in the Southeast Asian country.
A series of school shootings in the Philippines has led lawmakers to pass bills aimed at restricting children's access to social media. On Monday, the House of Representatives approved a bill prohibiting children under 13 from using social media, while those aged 13-17 would face limited access. The Senate's version of the bill, passed last week, prohibits individuals under 18 from using platforms classified as high-risk.
Both bills must reconcile their differences before being sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signature. President Marcos stated that while he does not find the ban surprising, his administration will study the potential effectiveness of such restrictions, which could make children hide their use of social media. The bills follow reports of a foiled mass shooting plot by students in February and other violent incidents in the country.
Critics argue that such bans may not be effective, citing the limited implementation and circumvention of Australia's social media ban for children in 2025. The Philippine Senate's bill increases the age restriction from the original proposal's 16 years to 18 years and requires platforms to implement effective age-assurance measures for minors. Parents will also have the ability to withdraw consent for their children's social media use.
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