Philippine House Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 13
The Philippine House of Representatives approved a bill banning children under 13 from social media, sparking a legislative conflict with the Senate over stricter age limits.
The House of Representatives of the Philippines approved House Bill No. 11566, known as the SAFE Kids Act, on October 12, 2026. The measure prohibits children under 13 from creating social media and interactive online gaming accounts. Minors aged 13 to 17 would require parental consent and face restrictions on behavioral profiling, targeted advertising, and algorithmic short-video feeds. The bill also bans those under 18 from making online purchases and using gambling-like mechanisms.
To enforce these rules, the legislation proposes establishing an Office for Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces under the Department of Information and Communications Technology. This legislative push follows a series of school shootings since June, including an incident in Tacloban where students killed three peers, which the government links to online content.
The House version faces a legislative showdown with a proposal approved by the Senate on October 8, which seeks a stricter blanket ban on account creation for all users under 18. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed caution regarding the Senate's approach, suggesting a total ban could lead children to hide their online activities and increase their vulnerability to grooming and abuse. The two chambers must now reconcile their versions before submitting a final bill for presidential approval.
