Under 18? This Senate bill could restrict your social media access

National

FOR users below 18, access to social media could soon be restricted under a Senate measure that advanced on second reading.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 2424, or the Child Online Safety and Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Robinhood Padilla, seeks to protect children from physical, mental and social harms posed by social media platforms.

The measure defines age-restricted social media platforms as electronic services that primarily facilitate online social interactions and allow users to publish content accessible to other users.

If enacted, platforms covered by the bill would be required to prevent people below 18 from accessing their services or creating accounts. They would also have to establish systems to accurately and appropriately verify users’ ages and provide parental safety tools for age-restricted users.

International social media platforms operating in the Philippines would also be required to comply with the measure, designate a representative in the country and work with local authorities.

The bill excludes email platforms, private messaging services and online gaming platforms that are not primarily used for social networking. Educational platforms, news services and professional collaboration tools would likewise not fall under its coverage.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would oversee implementation if the measure becomes law. Its responsibilities would include assessing compliance, establishing reporting mechanisms, conducting investigations, imposing fines and updating age assurance standards.

The DICT would also be authorized to seek restrictions on digital services that fail to enforce the minimum age requirement or implement age verification mechanisms, as well as those that fail to respond to harmful content.

Violating digital services could face fines ranging from P5 million to P20 million per violation, plus P100,000 for each day of noncompliance. The DICT could also face administrative penalties ranging from less than P5 million to P20 million per violation.

The House version of the measure takes a different approach, proposing a full social media ban for children below 13 years old while seeking restrictions for those aged 13 to 18.

SB 2424 must undergo further legislative action before it can become law.(MyTVCebu)