House passes bill restricting minors’ social media use

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday passed on final reading a bill prohibiting children aged 13 and below from creating social media accounts while restricting access for those under 18.

The chamber approved House Bill No. 10858, known as the Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces Act, with 287 lawmakers voting in favor and three against.

However, a legislative showdown looms as the House and the Senate have passed differing versions of the bill.

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READ: Senate approves bill restricting social media use by minors

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The House designated Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Bulacan Rep. Agatha “Agay” Cruz, Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Zubiri and Nanay Rep. Florabel Yatco to negotiate with the Senate over its bill mandating a total ban on social media access for minors under 18.

Still, the proposed restrictions align the Philippines with a global regulatory wave, alongside Australia, Malaysia and Greece, among others, aimed at imposing statutory age limits and compliance mandates on tech giants.

The domestic legislative push comes as authorities seek to restrict digital content following a string of school violence, including shootings and stabbings on campuses that the government believes were driven by online content.

Under the House proposal, children aged 13 and below would be barred from social media, while teenagers under 18 would be allowed limited access. They would be shielded from harmful ads, livestreaming and algorithmic short-video feeds that encourage limitless scrolling.

Teens under 18 would also be barred from making online purchases and engaging with “gambling-like mechanisms” and other features that may pose “reasonably foreseeable and material risks” to their well-being and development. /mcm