To protect Filipino youth from the harmful effects of excessive social media use, Senator Panfilo Lacson has filed a bill regulating access to social media platforms by minors.
Citing studies linking heavy social media use to anxiety, depression, and social isolation, Lacson noted that Filipino children are increasingly vulnerable to cyberbullying, body image issues, and online harassment.
A UNICEF report and data from the Council for the Welfare of Children and the National ICT Household Survey show that a significant number of Filipino minors actively use the internet and social media.
Lacson’s proposed measure, titled “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors,” takes inspiration from Australia’s policy of setting a minimum age for social media use. The bill seeks to prohibit individuals under 18 from accessing or using social media platforms.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will enforce the law by monitoring compliance, investigating violations, and issuing orders to deactivate accounts used by minors. It can also penalize platforms and internet service providers that fail to comply.
Penalties include fines of P1 million to P20 million per violation for platforms, with an additional P100,000 daily fine for continued non-compliance. ISPs may face P300,000 to P3 million in fines, while third-party age verifiers may be fined up to P5 million for breaches or negligence and face a ban from operating.IMT
