MANILA, Philippines -- Sen. Win Gatchalian sought to limit Filipino youth's access to digital platforms, for their protection, following Indonesia’s enforcement of a social media ban for minors under 16.
“Let us not wait for the problem to worsen before we act," Gatchalian said in a statement in Filipino.
He cited the results of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment which found that every one-hour increase in 15-year old Filipino learners’ use of digital devices for leisure resulted in a four-point decrease in math scores.
In 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to ban minors under 16 on social media. The ban took full effect in December 2025.
The senator on Monday said that Indonesia is the first country in Southeast Asia to enforce a social media ban for minors.
Under its regulation, minors below 16 will be prohibited from creating accounts on platforms deemed ‘high-risk’, including Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Roblox, among others.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center earlier urged telecommunication firms to prepare for a possible nationwide Roblox block to protect children from online exploitation and harmful content.
Gatchalian also cited a Los Angeles jury finding YouTube and Meta liable for childhood social media addiction.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros rarlier filed Reso 357 directing the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to conduct an investigation on Roblox and other online gaming platforms.
Hontiveros wants to establish a mandatory age verification protocols and child safety standards to prevent online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, grooming, violent radicalization and other emerging digital threats consistent with international best practices and child safety laws.
