Referencing a UNICEF study concerning children’s vulnerability to cyberbullying in social media, Senator Ping Lacson has filed a bill regulating social media use by minors, citing its dangers to their mental health.
Titled “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes,” the bill aims to prohibit individuals under 18 from accessing or using social media platforms. Lacson’s bill takes inspiration from similar policies implemented in other countries.
Under the proposed bill, social media platforms will be required to verify the identity of its users through ID verification and facial recognition. They will also be required to conduct regular audits of its users and remove those who are underaged, along with mechanisms when they find age-restricted users in their platforms.
Those who will violate the rules face the following penalties:
- Platforms could be fined between P1 million and P20 million.
- Internet service providers (ISPs) face administrative fines ranging from P300,000 to P3 million for failing to enforce government-ordered blocks.
- Third-party age verification providers who violate data privacy laws may be fined P500,000 to P5 million and permanently banned from operating in the Philippines.
The DICT will serve as the implementing agency of the bill, where it will oversee compliance by social media platforms and internet providers.
