Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed Senate Bill No. 2066, called the Social Media Safety for Children Act. The proposal sets a minimum age of 16 for social media use in the Philippines.
The idea is simple: protect minors from unsafe online spaces. The proponents pointed to risks like cyberbullying, exploitation, and too much screen time.
If passed, social media platforms will need to roll out age and identity checks. They’ll also be required to audit accounts regularly, shut down underage profiles, and stop users from creating duplicate or reactivated accounts. The bill also pushes for parental supervision tools so parents can monitor usage.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will take the lead in drafting the rules. They’ll have 90 days to finalize the guidelines once the law takes effect.
This isn’t the only proposal on the table. In March 2026, CIBAC Representative Eddie Villanueva filed House Bill No. 8262, also called the Social Media Protection for Minors Act. That measure will place the responsibility on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube to enforce the age limit.
Globally, Australia already has a minimum age law for social media, while Indonesia enforces restrictions to protect minors. Locally, other senators have filed similar bills, some requiring parental consent and stronger safeguards against online harm.
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If approved, these laws could change how young Filipinos use social media, balancing access with safety.
