GATCHALIAN BILL SEEKS SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR MINORS UNDER 16

SENATOR Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that prohibits children below 16 years of age from registering, accessing, or maintaining accounts on any social media platform.

“Panahon na upang protektahan ang ating mga kabataan mula sa pinsalang dulot ng social media. Huwag na nating hintaying lumala ang problema bago tayo umaksyon,” said Gatchalian in filing Social Media Safety for Children Act (Senate Bill No. 2066). 

The proposed measure follows the lead of countries that have imposed similar bans, including Australia – the first to do so – which passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age Act 2024), effective December 2025. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia became the first to enforce a similar restriction by banning social media access for children under 16.

Under Senate Bill No. 2066, social media platform providers will be required to adopt age and identity verification systems, conduct regular audits to deactivate accounts of age-restricted users, and establish reporting and response mechanisms for underage access, among other safeguards.

The DICT, in coordination with the DSWD, DepEd, NTC, NPC, and other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations within ninety days after the effectivity of this Act.