Real Talk

A Bill Seeking To Protect Minors on Social Media Is Filed in the Senate: Why This Matters to Parents

by Alexa Villano
July 3, 2025

Senator Ping Lacson wants to regulate social media access for Filipino minors. Here’s what’s at stake—and why moms and dads should pay attention

Are you one of those parents constantly negotiating screen time or trying to pull your child away from hours of scrolling? Well, you might soon have help from legislation if a bill proposed by Senator Ping Lacson moves forward.

On July 2, Lacson filed a bill inspired by Australia’s model for regulating kids’ access to social media platforms. It aims to put firm restrictions in place for Filipino minors, and more importantly, hold platforms accountable when those restrictions are ignored.

The bill is known as An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes.

Why was the bill filed?

The returning senator cited studies, especially from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on the effects of excessive social media use among children.

“A UNICEF study revealed that Filipino children and adolescents have grown vulnerable to cyberbullying, body image pressures, and online harassment because of social media exposure,” he explained.

He also cited data from the Council for the Welfare of Children and the National ICT Household Survey. The findings? Around 60% of Filipino children aged 10 to 17 are not just online—they’re active social media users.

The senator took a cue from Australia, which passed a bill last year banning kids under 16 years from using social media.

“Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State’s declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content by prohibiting minors from accessing or using social media platforms,” Lacson said.

What’s in the bill?

Under the proposed law, platforms would be required to take “ reasonable steps and age verification measures to prevent age-restricted users from registering, accessing, or continuing to use their social media service.”

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would oversee compliance, enforcement, and investigation. Companies that violate the law may face fines ranging from PHP 1 to 20 million, plus potential license suspensions. ISPs and third-party verifiers also face stiff penalties if they fail to act on violations.

Why this matters to parents

Although the bill is still in its early stages, many parents and educators are watching closely. Some have already been engaging in community dialogues about device overuse and how social media affects kids’ mental health.

Naturally, tech companies are expected to weigh in as well—many of them already have safeguards in place, but it remains to be seen how strictly they’re followed.

The big question now is: Will this bill pass? And more importantly for families: How will it affect the way we raise our kids in an increasingly digital world?