MANILA — A proposal seeking to prohibit children below 16 years old from accessing social media platforms has been filed in the Senate, aiming to shield minors from harmful online exposure.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the measure is intended to create safer digital environments for children and prevent risks associated with social media use.

“Panahon na upang protektahan ang ating mga kabataan mula sa pinsalang dulot ng social media. Huwag na nating hintaying lumala ang problema bago tayo umaksyon (It is time to protect our youth from the harm caused by social media. We should not wait for the problem to worsen before we act),” he said.

The proposal, filed as Senate Bill No. 2066 or the Social Media Safety for Children Act, seeks to bar individuals under 16 from registering, accessing, or maintaining accounts on social media platforms.

Under the measure, platform providers would be required to implement age and identity verification systems, conduct regular audits to detect and deactivate underage accounts, and establish mechanisms for reporting and responding to violations.

The bill also requires safeguards to prevent circumvention of age restrictions, including controls on duplicate or reactivated accounts, and tools to support parental supervision and responsible usage.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology, together with agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Privacy Commission, would be tasked to craft implementing rules within 90 days once the law takes effect.

The proposal follows similar policies abroad, including Australia’s minimum age requirement for social media use and restrictions implemented in Indonesia.

Other senators have also filed related measures seeking to regulate minors’ social media use through age limits, parental consent requirements, and stronger protections against online harm.