Philippines advances legislation to restrict minors' social media access

The Philippine Senate and House of Representatives are advancing legislation aimed at protecting minors from the risks of social media and digital platforms. The Senate recently approved Senate Bill No. 2424, the Child Online Safety and Protection Act, in a 16-1 vote. If passed by the House and signed into law, the bill would prohibit children under 18 from accessing age-restricted social media platforms, requiring companies to implement age verification and parental safety tools.

Simultaneously, the House of Representatives has moved forward with House Bill No. 11566, the Children’s Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act. This measure seeks to establish age restrictions and accountability mechanisms for digital platforms. Under this proposal, children under 13 would be prohibited from creating or maintaining accounts, while those aged 13 to 17 could access services subject to parental consent and specific safeguards.

Both legislative efforts aim to shield children from exploitation, harmful content, and mental or emotional harm. The Department of Information and Communications Technology would oversee implementation, with potential fines for non-compliant platforms ranging from P5 million to P20 million per violation.