At least seven senators have expressed support for a proposed measure that would ban social media use for individuals aged 16 and below, citing growing concerns over its impact on youth mental health and behavior.
Senator Win Gatchalian confirmed on Friday that support among lawmakers is increasing, with several already filing similar proposals.
“Magkakaroon kami ng pagdinig. Maraming senators na pumapayag. In fact, binilang ko mga 7 or 8 senators ang nag-file ng iba-ban,” Gatchalian said.
He argued that social media is not essential for childhood development, noting that earlier generations grew up without it.
“Kung isipin nyo dati, wala naman tayong social media pero nabuhay naman tayo. So I don’t think mabuti para sa mental health ng ating mga bata,” he added.
The proposed restriction comes amid ongoing Senate discussions on child protection in digital platforms. The inquiry was led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which examined safety concerns involving online applications such as Roblox.
Gatchalian said the hearings highlighted risks linked to excessive online exposure, including potential behavioral and mental health effects among minors.
“Nagkaroon ng hearing tungkol dito sa Roblox na application na naging dahilan kung (bakit) maraming mental health issues. Meron pang mga itinuturong mga violent actions ng mga bata. Kaya ako, pabor ako na pagbawalan ng social media sa mga bata. Maraming bansa gumagawa na nito,” he said.
He added that similar policies are already being implemented in other countries, reinforcing calls for stricter regulation in the Philippines.
Beyond digital regulation, Gatchalian also said the Senate will soon deliberate on a separate proposal to shorten college education from four years to three.
The plan seeks to integrate general education subjects into the senior high school curriculum to help students transition more quickly into employment or specialized higher education.