Lawmaker proposes social media ban for minors under 16

A new bill filed in the Philippine House of Representatives seeks to ban people under 16 years old from using social media platforms.

CIBAC Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva filed House Bill No. 8262, also called the “Social Media Protection for Minors Act,” which aims to set a minimum age for accessing social media. The bill also says that social media companies, not parents or users, should be responsible for enforcing the age limit.

Under the proposal, platforms would be required to follow guidelines and rules to prevent minors from creating or using accounts. The bill names platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube among the services that may be affected.

Villanueva said the measure is meant to protect young users from harmful content online. In a statement, he said children can be exposed to sexual and violent material, online exploitation, and other risks on social media. He added that heavy use of social media may also affect young people’s mental health and behavior.

Similar restrictions have already been introduced in other countries. According to Tech Policy’s Global Social Media Age Restriction Tracker, five countries have passed laws banning social media for users under 16, while three have already started implementing them.

Australia began enforcing its ban in December 2024. China has had strict online rules for minors under 18 since 2021. Indonesia recently passed a similar measure in March, while Malaysia approved its Online Safety Act in January 2026.

Lawmakers in several countries are studying similar rules as research continues to examine the effects of social media on young users.