Senator Win Gatchalian has renewed his push for the Philippines to impose a social media ban on minors under 16, citing Indonesia’s recent enforcement of a similar restriction—the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Under Indonesia’s regulation, individuals below 16 are prohibited from creating or using accounts on platforms classified as “high-risk,” including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Roblox.
The senator’s appeal also follows earlier recommendations from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which urged telecommunications companies to prepare for a possible nationwide ban on Roblox, citing risks of child exploitation and harmful content exposure.
Gatchalian pointed to global developments, including a Los Angeles jury ruling that held YouTube and Meta accountable for youth social media addiction, and findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 showing that each additional hour spent by 15-year-olds on digital devices for leisure corresponded to a four-point decline in math performance.
“Huwag na nating hayaang lumala pa ang problema bago tayo kumilos,” Gatchalian said.
Australia was the first country to implement a similar measure, banning social media use for those under 16 starting in 2024, with full enforcement taking effect in December 2025.