Leaders of the House of Representatives have filed a measure seeking to strengthen protections for children using social media by imposing stricter requirements on digital platforms and limiting access for younger users.

House Bill No. 9665, or the Children's Social Media Safety Act, was filed by House Speaker Faustino Dy V and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.

The proposed measure seeks to establish a regulatory framework requiring social media platforms to adopt safeguards aimed at protecting minors online.

Dy said social media has become an important part of children's daily lives but warned that it also exposes them to harmful content.

"We are seeing that social media has become a huge part of daily life. That's why we have a big responsibility to ensure the safety of our children while they use it. If we allow Filipino children to explore the online world, they should be given sufficient protections," he said.

Under the bill, children younger than 13 would be prohibited from creating or maintaining social media accounts. Platforms would also be required to verify the accuracy of users' age information.

The proposal also seeks to strengthen parental oversight by requiring platforms to provide tools that allow parents or guardians to monitor their children's online activity. Parents would also have the authority to grant or withdraw consent for their children's use of social media.

Dy said the measure is not intended to completely prevent children from using digital platforms but to ensure they do so under appropriate guidance.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that technology is for the good of children, not a cause of danger to their growth," he said.

The bill would impose fines ranging from P5 million to P50 million on social media companies that fail to comply with its provisions.

Platforms found to have repeatedly or seriously violated the law could also face temporary or permanent suspension of their operations in the Philippines, subject to existing laws and regulations.

"Given the reach of social media and the internet, protecting children can no longer rest solely on the shoulders of parents. It is also the government's responsibility to ensure that social platforms are held accountable to make the digital environment safer for children," Dy said.