Senate advances under-16 social media ban

The Senate passed on second reading a bill banning children under 16 from registering for or using social media platforms, acting in response to an unprecedented spate of fatal school shootings linked to online radicalization.

Senate Bill 2424, titled the Child Online Safety and Protection Act, would prohibit teenagers under 16 from creating, maintaining, or accessing accounts on age-restricted digital platforms.

Under the proposed legislation, teens between 16 and 17 would be permitted to use social media only after undergoing strict age verification and safety protocols.

If enacted, the Philippines would join countries such as Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia in establishing a statutory minimum age for social media access.

“Children who are 16 years old but below 18 years old may access and use age-restricted social media platforms subject to age assurance requirements and child safety measures established under this Act,” said Senator Robin Padilla, the bill’s principal sponsor.

The measure requires tech platforms to employ independent third-party age verification providers. Social media companies would be legally mandated to automatically suspend, disable, or remove any account determined to be operated by an underage user.

Legislators introduced the strict age limits following a series of deadly gun attacks at public and private schools carried out by enrolled minors.

Senate inquiries revealed that online offenders and extremist groups were using gaming platforms and private messaging applications like Facebook Messenger, Viber, and WhatsApp to groom and radicalize teenagers.

The country’s first recorded school shooting occurred 22 June at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, leaving three students dead and dozens injured.

Subsequent fatal shootings occurred at Ateneo de Zamboanga University on 18 August and Banga National High School in South Cotabato on 18 September, claiming the lives of four more minors, including one of the shooters.

The legislation also establishes strict penalties for noncompliance. Parents or legal guardians who assist minors in bypassing age restrictions face fines ranging from P5,000 to P50,000.

Social media platforms, verification providers, or government agencies violating the provisions face administrative fines between P1 million and P20 million per offense.