SENATOR Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed a bill seeking to prohibit individuals under 18 from accessing or using social media platforms, citing the need to protect minors from the harmful effects of online exposure.
The measure, titled “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes,” would require platforms to verify users’ age and identity through methods such as ID checks or facial recognition.
Companies must also remove underage accounts, conduct regular audits, and respond to reports of violations.
All data collected must also comply with the Data Privacy Act—kept secure, minimal, and only for as long as necessary. Users must also be informed about how their data is being used.
“A UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) study … revealed that Filipino children and adolescents have grown vulnerable to cyberbullying, body image pressures, and online harassment because of social media exposure,” said Lacson in his proposal.
He added that one in every three Filipino children aged 0 to 18 uses the internet, while around 60% of those aged 10 to 17 are active online users.
Lacson pointed to countries like Australia that have already implemented similar policies to regulate minors’ access to social media and create safer digital spaces.
