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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian renews call to keep minors off social media

Gatchalian renews call to keep minors off social media

Published Mar 30, 2026 11:26 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday, March 30 renewed his push for the government to consider banning social media use for minors, following Indonesia's implementation of a new government regulation prohibiting children younger than 16 from accessing digital platforms.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday, March 30 renewed his push for the government to consider banning social media use for minors, following Indonesia’s implementation of a new government regulation prohibiting children younger than 16 from accessing digital platforms.

photo: PNP
photo: PNP

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate finance panel, made the call for a similar prohibition in the Philippines noting the negative impact of online platforms in minors’ decision-making and behavior.

So far, Indonesia is the first country in Southeast Asia to enforce a social media ban for minors, where in children below 16 will be prohibited from creating accounts on platforms deemed “high-risk.”

These include Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X and Roblox, among others.

The senator’s call also coincided with a Los Angeles jury finding YouTube and Meta liable for childhood social media addiction.

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.

“Huwag na nating hayaang lumala pa ang problema bago tayo kumilos (Let's not let the problem get worse before we take action),” said Gatchalian.

Earlier, Gatchalian expressed alarm over reports of police foiling a school attack plot involving seven minors, aged 12 to 17, last Feb. 2, 2026

The minors were reportedly radicalized through Roblox and other online gaming platforms and were planning to attack a school on February 16 with weapons and explosives.

“The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) thwarting of a teenagers’ alleged plan to stage a school attack should serve as a wake-up call. It is alarming that an online gaming community may have influenced these youths, highlighting the dangers of unchecked digital spaces,” Gatchalian said.

Equally concerning, according to the lawmaker, is the state of the students’ mental health and the need for stronger school-based support systems.

“I will file a bill banning social media use for minors aged 16 and below, a move that follows the examples of countries like Australia, Denmark, and Norway. Huwag na nating hintaying lumala ang problemang ito ng mga kabataan bago tayo kumilos (Let's not wait for this problem among young people to get worse before we take action),” the senator insisted.

Related Tags

roblox social media SOCIAL MEDIA BAN Sherwin Gatchalian
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