CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva is pushing for a measure that would prohibit minors aged 16 and below from accessing social media platforms in the Philippines.
Villanueva filed House Bill 8262, also known as the Social Media Protection for Minors Act, which seeks to restrict social media use among younger individuals.
Under the proposed measure, social media platforms would not be allowed to provide access to users who are 16 years old and below.
The lawmaker said the proposal aims to address what he described as the alarming global impact of social media on children, particularly on mental health, safety, and developmental well-being.
In the bill, Villanueva cited several countries that have begun tightening regulations on minors’ social media use.
These include Australia, Spain, and France, while Indonesia is also beginning to introduce similar measures.
Villanueva said the Philippine government should take a stronger role in ensuring safer digital spaces for young people.
If the measure becomes law, social media platforms would be given the primary responsibility to prevent underage users from accessing their services.
Platforms would be required to use age-assurance technologies to verify users’ ages and remove accounts that belong to minors.
They would also be required to submit periodic transparency reports detailing their compliance actions.
According to Villanueva, risks linked to social media continue to grow, including algorithm-driven addiction, exposure to violent or sexual content, and online exploitation.
The lawmaker said protecting minors from harmful exposure on social media should be treated as both a moral and national responsibility.
Villanueva said the measure seeks to strengthen safeguards for children in the digital environment.
