New Senate Bill Seeks to Restrict Social Media Access for Minors

It aims to restrict social media access for under-18s.

Published on Jul 4, 2025

As more Filipino children and teens spend hours daily on social media, concerns about its impact on their mental and emotional well-being are growing. In response, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed a bill that seeks to restrict social media access for anyone under 18.

If passed, the bill would ban minors from using social media platforms altogether and require companies to implement strict age and identity verification systems to prevent underage users from creating accounts.

Also read: We Dare Imagine: What If PH Banned Kids Below 16 From Social Media?

Breaking Down the Bill

Titled “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes,” the bill aims to limit minors’ exposure to potentially harmful digital content through strict age restrictions.

Senator Lacson pointed to studies linking excessive social media use to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation among adolescents. He also highlighted a UNICEF report revealing that Filipino children and teens face increasing risks of cyberbullying, body image pressures, and online harassment.

Inspired by similar efforts in countries like Australia, which has introduced strict age restrictions on social media use, the bill follows their lead in regulating minors’ access to online platforms. In Singapore, the Ministry of Health recommended removing the use of screens during meal times, especially for kids 18 months and younger.

“Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State’s declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content by prohibiting minors from accessing or using social media platforms,” Lacson said in a statement.

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Under the proposed bill, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would serve as the main agency responsible for enforcing the measure. If passed, the DICT would be tasked with:

Monitoring social media platforms’ compliance with age and verification requirements

Setting up systems for reporting violations and investigating complaints

Ordering the removal or deactivation of accounts belonging to minors

Imposing penalties on platforms and internet service providers (ISPs) for non-compliance

Coordinating with other agencies such as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Education (DepEd)

Social media platforms found violating the law could face fines ranging from ₱1 million to ₱20 million. ISPs that fail to block access when ordered may be fined ₱300,000 to ₱3 million. Third-party age verification firms could be penalized ₱500,000 to ₱5 million for failing to meet standards or violating data privacy laws.

Lacson emphasized that the bill remains consistent with the Data Privacy Act, requiring any data collected for age verification to be securely stored, used only for its intended purpose, and deleted afterward.

According to the Council for the Welfare of Children, one in every three Filipino kids uses the internet. A separate survey shows that 60% of children aged 10 to 17 are active social media users.

The bill is currently awaiting further discussion in the Senate. While it remains to be seen whether it will pass, it has already sparked important conversations about how to better safeguard children in the digital age.

Click here to learn how to guide young children in using social media responsibly.

Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.