Senate passes bill to restrict social media access for minors

The Senate gave its final approval Thursday to the Child Online Safety and Protection Act, voting 16-1 in favor of the measure. Sponsored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, Senate Bill No. 2424 seeks to establish comprehensive safeguards limiting social media use among minors and protecting children from online harms.

The bill's passage reflects growing concerns among lawmakers about the impact of social media platforms on young Filipinos, including issues related to mental health, online exploitation, and inappropriate content exposure. The proposed legislation would require social media companies to implement stricter age verification mechanisms and establish protections for users below 18 years old.

With near-unanimous support in the upper chamber, the measure now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Padilla has framed the bill as essential for safeguarding the country's youth in an increasingly digital environment, emphasizing the need for balanced protections that respect both child safety and parental rights.

The legislation represents one of the most significant recent efforts by the Philippine government to regulate tech platforms' interaction with minors, joining similar initiatives being pursued in other countries worldwide.