PASAY CITY, Philippines — The Senate passed on third and final reading on Thursday, October 8, a legislative measure prohibiting individuals below 16 years old from using social media platforms in the Philippines.
Senate Bill No. 2424 garnered approval from 16 lawmakers present during the plenary session, with Senator Risa Hontiveros casting the sole negative vote.
The measure sets a higher age restriction than the version being deliberated in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers approved House Bill No. 11566 on second reading last Tuesday to restrict social media access for children under 13.
Under the Senate proposal, minors under 16 are barred from opening, maintaining, accessing, or operating accounts on age-restricted networks. Tech companies would be obligated to disable, restrict, or delete any profiles identified as being used by underage individuals.
To enforce compliance, platforms must implement effective, proportionate, and reliable age-verification systems to prevent children below 16 from creating or accessing accounts.
Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 may still use social media, provided they fulfill age-assurance protocols and adhere to established online safety standards.
An exception is granted for minors under 16 who need to use designated platforms for legitimate school requirements, provided the access is certified by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Their usage would remain restricted to educational activities backed by privacy and child-protection mechanisms.
Social media networks and third-party verification providers failing to comply could face penalties between ₱1 million and ₱20 million per violation. Serious, deliberate, or repeated non-compliance may result in the suspension or revocation of their local permits and operational access, following due process.
Parents and legal guardians who intentionally assist a child under 16 in bypassing age controls, set up accounts on their behalf, or demonstrate gross negligence in their oversight role could face fines ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱50,000, along with required enrollment in digital parenting and online safety courses. Simple failure to monitor a child will not incur penalties without proof of gross negligence or deliberate intent.
The proposed restriction aligns the Philippines with global efforts, as nations such as Australia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates implement similar age-based limits to address youth mental health and online security concerns.