House approves bill restricting social media access for children under 13

The House of Representatives voted to pass on second reading a bill that would prohibit children aged 13 and below from establishing social media accounts, while imposing access restrictions on users under 18 years old. The legislative action reflects growing international momentum toward implementing digital protections designed to shield young people from potential online harms.

The measure seeks to establish age-appropriate boundaries for social media use among minors in the Philippines. By setting a minimum age threshold of 13 for account creation, lawmakers aim to prevent premature exposure to digital platforms while establishing additional safeguards for teenagers aged 13 to 17.

The bill's advancement comes as governments worldwide have intensified efforts to regulate technology companies' practices regarding minors. Several countries have recently enacted or proposed similar age-restriction measures, reflecting shared concerns about the impact of social media on children's mental health, privacy, and online safety.

The measure will proceed to third reading before final legislative consideration. If enacted, the Philippines would join a growing list of nations establishing statutory minimum age requirements for social media platform access.