Manila: Senate President Win Gatchalian announced plans to prioritize a legislative measure aimed at barring minors from accessing social media platforms when Congress resumes its session. This move is part of a growing international effort to protect children from potential online harm.
According to Philippines News Agency, the recent legislative developments in France have served as a catalyst for this initiative. France's parliament, on July 21, approved a law that will prohibit children below the age of 15 from opening social media accounts starting September 1, 2026. This law mandates social media platforms to implement government-approved age-verification systems and allows them an additional four months to deactivate existing accounts belonging to underage users.
Australia set a precedent as the first country to establish a nationwide minimum age requirement for social media accounts. Since December 10, 2025, platforms have been required to implement measures preventing children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. The enforcement of these regulations led to the removal of approximately 4.7 million under-16 accounts, as reported by Australia's eSafety Commissioner.
Malaysia has also initiated measures to restrict social media access for children under 16, while several other countries are contemplating similar legislative actions. These steps indicate a growing global awareness of the risks associated with unrestricted social media exposure, particularly concerning the mental health, safety, and overall well-being of children.
Gatchalian emphasized the significance of this legislative measure, stating, "Sa pagbabalik-sesyon ng Kongreso, bibigyang prayoridad ng Senado ang panukalang batas na ipagbawal ang paggamit ng social media sa mga menor de edad (When Congress resumes session, the Senate will prioritize the proposed measure banning minors from using social media)." He further stressed the urgency, adding, "Hindi na natin ito dapat ipagpaliban dahil ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan ang nakataya dito (We should no longer delay this because the future of our youth is at stake)."
