Philippine House Passes Bill Banning Under-13s from Social Media
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Philippines took a significant step toward restricting minors' social media access as its House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Monday to approve a bill banning children under 13 from using social media platforms . The Senate had previously endorsed a similar measure, and both chambers must now reconcile their different versions before sending a final draft to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval .
Key Points
- The House bill prohibits children under 13 from accessing social media, while the stricter Senate version bans all users under 18 from creating accounts
- Three school shootings since June, including a 16-year-old who killed two students before himself, sparked renewed debate over minors and online content
- The House version allows 13-17 year olds to use platforms but mandates blocking algorithm recommendations, live streaming, and paid features
- President Marcos expressed concern that blanket bans could push children to hide activities, making them vulnerable to online grooming
- Neighboring Malaysia began barring under-16s in June, giving platforms until January 2027 to implement age verification
Why It Matters
The Philippines joins a growing list of nations grappling with how to protect children online while balancing privacy and practical enforcement concerns. The divergence between the House and Senate versions highlights the difficult policy trade-offs: stricter age bans may simply push vulnerable youth toward unregulated corners of the internet, potentially increasing risks of exploitation rather than eliminating them .
The Philippines joins a growing list of nations grappling with how to protect children online while balancing privacy and practical enforcement concerns. The divergence between the House and Senate versions highlights the difficult policy trade-offs: stricter age bans may simply push vulnerable youth toward unregulated corners of the internet, potentially increasing risks of exploitation rather than eliminating them .