Philippine Congress Weighs Social Media Restrictions for Minors Amid School Violence Concerns

The Philippines House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban children under 13 from social media platforms and impose limitations on those aged 13 to 17. The measure, approved with 287 votes in favor and three against, mirrors a similar bill passed by the Senate, which sets a higher age threshold, prohibiting individuals under 18 from using social media services classified as "high-risk."

These legislative actions follow a series of school violence incidents that have prompted concern among Philippine lawmakers about the potential influence of social media on young people. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. acknowledged the congressional response, stating that it was unsurprising given the belief that social media may have contributed to violent acts among children. However, Marcos indicated that his administration would further study the feasibility of such bans in the Philippines, a nation of over 110 million people.

"It has its advantages, but it could also simply make children hide their use," Marcos told reporters, suggesting that a complete prohibition might not be the most effective solution.

Debates over age-specific social media restrictions have been ongoing in the Philippines since at least 2019. However, the issue gained significant traction earlier this year following reports of a foiled mass shooting plot by students in February and subsequent shootings and stabbings in other regions. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara suggested that exposure to harmful online content, including damaging social media sites, groomers, and online recruitment by terrorist groups, might have been a contributing factor to these incidents.

The proposed bans align with measures taken by other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Spain, which have introduced age-based restrictions on social media platforms due to concerns about their impact on children's mental health and safety.

Critics, however, question the effectiveness of such outright bans. A community-based study in Australia, which implemented a ban on social media for children, indicated "limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention" in the initial months after its enforcement in December 2025.

In the Philippines, Senator Risa Hontiveros, a proponent of children's and women's rights, was the sole dissenting vote on the Senate's bill. She advocated for "tiered restrictions" for adolescents rather than a blanket ban for those under 18, emphasizing the benefits social media can offer young people and warning that a sudden prohibition could drive usage underground.

Senator Robinhood Padilla, who sponsored the Senate's version, cited bullying, suicides, and school shootings as reasons for the urgent passage of the measure, stating that social media has contributed to numerous negative outcomes for youth.

The Senate's approved bill proposes disabling or suspending minors' accounts and preventing them from creating new ones, requiring platforms to implement effective age-assurance measures. It excludes email, private messaging apps without public features, school platforms, news websites, and gaming-focused online platforms.

Conversely, the House proposal aims to ban children under 13, while allowing teenagers under 18 access with restrictions on harmful content, advertisements, livestreams, and personalized content. Parental consent would be required for minors, with the ability to retract that consent.

Several violent incidents preceded the passage of these bills. In March, seven teenagers were allegedly planning a school attack in the Calabarzon region. In June, a shooting at a school in Tacloban City resulted in three student fatalities and multiple injuries. In July, another shooting at a southern Philippine high school left two students dead and eight wounded, with the perpetrator, a student, fatally shooting himself. Investigators found that the shooter had posted in an online community that idolized individuals involved in school shootings.

While gun violence is not uncommon in the Philippines, these incidents have brought the issue to the forefront, prompting comparisons to similar problems in the United States. However, organizations like the Philippine Mental Health Association and activist group Akbayan Youth have criticized blanket bans, arguing for comprehensive approaches that include mental health support, safe school environments, and holding platforms accountable for their role in user safety. They suggest that regulations should not penalize young users who rely on social media for education and livelihood.