Is the Phl ready for a social media ban on minors?

A Texas bill pushing for the strictest social media ban for minors in the U.S. is drawing national attention. House Bill 186 seeks to prevent anyone under 18 from accessing platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat without parental consent. Supporters argue the measure is overdue, citing concerns over social media addiction and its harmful effects on children's mental health and attention spans.

But thousands of kilometers away, in the Philippines — often called the social media capital of the world — the proposal raises more questions than answers. Could a similar measure be implemented there? And, more importantly, should it?

A nation glued to the screen
According to the Digital 2025 Report by We Are Social and Meltwater, 90.8 million Filipinos were active social media users as of January, or 78 percent of the population. Meanwhile, 97.5 million people — 83.8 of the country — are internet users. Cellular mobile connections now outnumber the population, reaching 142 million, or 122 percent penetration, due to multiple SIM card or eSIM usage.

Social media is undeniably a core part of Filipino life. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube are not just for communication but central to how Filipinos consume news, learn, work, and earn. YouTube alone reaches nearly 57.7 million Filipinos — about half the population.

These platforms have created unprecedented opportunities for content creation, digital entrepreneurship, and grassroots movements. For media companies like ours, this user base represents a massive audience and vital advertising revenue. A partial shutdown would have significant economic consequences.

An addiction?
Despite the benefits, the question remains: Are we raising a generation of screen addicts?

In interviews, parents, educators, and students shared stories of empowerment and distress. A high school teacher in San Pedro notes that many students can recite TikTok trends more fluently than they can read a news article. “They’re online 8 to 10 hours a day, and their reading comprehension has suffered.”

A 16-year-old student from Muntinlupa defends his generation. “We’re not lazy. We just learn differently. We spend time on our phones, but we also get news from Reddit, learn math on YouTube, and share ideas on Discord.”

“It’s alarming,” says a mother of two teenagers in Sta. Rosa. “My son spends over six hours daily scrolling through TikTok or watching streamers. I try to limit it, but it always turns into a fight.”

Still, the data is concerning. The Philippines ranks among the highest globally in daily social media usage. Filipino internet users average 8 hours and 52 minutes per day on social media, according to DataReportal.

Is a Ban Feasible?
Given the Philippines’ digital dependence, a sweeping ban like Texas’s would be nearly impossible here.

The Philippines has laws protecting minors online, such as the Anti-Child Pornography Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. However, none address social media addiction or propose age-based platform access restrictions.

Legally, such a ban could clash with freedoms like expression and access to information. Practically, enforcement would be a nightmare. Age verification systems are easily bypassed, and the country’s digital infrastructure and cybersecurity laws are still catching up.

Enforcing a ban would require technological infrastructure and cooperation from tech giants like Meta and ByteDance — a challenge even the U.S. faces.

If traffic congestion costs the economy ₱3.5 billion daily, what is the cost of social media addiction on productivity? While no direct metric exists, analysts warn of long-term damage. As attention spans shrink and content consumption becomes more passive, innovation, deep work, and meaningful discourse are at risk.