The House of Representatives has approved a proposed social media ban for children under 13, while minors aged 13 to 18 could face restrictions on short videos, chat groups and harmful online content.
Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo presented the substitute bill during a hearing of the House committee on the welfare of children. The measure consolidates 10 proposals that seek to protect minors from risks linked to unrestricted social media use.
Under the proposed measure, children below 13 would face a full ban on social media platforms. Romulo said the proposal also aims to keep children in this age group from spending time on screens.
For minors aged 13 to below 18, the proposal would restrict access to harmful content related to violence and sex. It would also bar users in this age group from scrolling through short-form videos and joining chat groups.
The House version differs from Senate Bill No. 2424, or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act, which sets 16 as the minimum age for social media use. Romulo said lawmakers could iron out the differences through a bicameral conference committee if both chambers approve their respective measures.
The bill would also require social media companies to establish a registered Philippine presence if they want to operate in the country. Romulo said the requirement would give Philippine authorities a clearer legal route to hold platforms accountable.
The House technical working group left provisions on parental consent and screen-time limits for adolescents out of the substitute bill. Those provisions could still come up during plenary deliberations and the amendment process.
The proposed restrictions come amid concerns over minors' exposure to violent online content. Lawmakers have linked the push for tighter social media controls to recent school shooting incidents in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City, where authorities also looked into possible exposure to violent online material and nihilistic violent extremist behavior.
