MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to prevent Filipinos below 18 years old from accessing high-risk digital platforms, advancing legislation aimed at protecting children from harmful online content and activities.

Senate Bill No. 2424, known as the proposed Safe Media Access and Responsible Technology for Kids in Digital Spaces (SMART KIDS) Act, received 16 affirmative votes, one negative vote, and no abstentions during the plenary session on Thursday, October 8.

Senator Risa Hontiveros cast the lone dissenting vote against the measure, which was sponsored by Senator Robinhood Padilla.

What the proposed restrictions cover

Under the Senate-approved measure, digital platforms classified as high-risk would be required to prevent users below 18 from creating, operating, or maintaining accounts.

The bill would also require covered platforms to suspend, restrict, disable, or remove accounts identified as belonging to minors within the prohibited age group.

Among the digital services discussed in connection with the proposal are Meta's social media platforms, Roblox, and GoreBox, amid concerns that certain online environments may expose young users to violent content, grooming, and other potentially harmful activities.

However, the restrictions are not intended to cover every internet-based service. Email, qualifying private messaging services, educational platforms, news services, professional collaboration tools, and online games not primarily designed for social networking are among the proposed exemptions.

The measure also provides for age-verification requirements and penalties for digital service providers that fail to comply with the proposed safeguards.

Violations by high-risk digital services could result in fines ranging from ₱5 million to ₱20 million per offense, along with additional penalties for continuing violations.

House advances separate measure with lower age restriction

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, is pursuing a different approach to regulating children's social media use.

On October 6, lawmakers approved House Bill No. 11566, or the proposed Children's Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act, on second reading.

Unlike the Senate proposal, the House measure seeks to prohibit children below 13 from creating or maintaining social media accounts.

Teenagers aged 13 to 17 would be permitted to use social media under additional safeguards intended to limit their exposure to harmful content and potentially unsafe platform features.

The differing age restrictions would need to be reconciled if both chambers approve their respective versions and move toward a final measure.

Lawmakers divided over proposed ban

Supporters of stricter social media regulations have raised concerns about children's exposure to cyberbullying, online exploitation, violent material, and digital environments that may facilitate harmful behavior.

The Senate's approval comes amid public concern over recent incidents of violence involving young people and discussions about the potential influence of extremist online content.

However, Hontiveros opposed the measure, arguing that an outright ban could prevent young Filipinos from accessing important opportunities and maintaining social connections.

She pointed out that social media is also used by young people for communication, education, online selling, content creation, and employment-related activities.

Hontiveros instead advocated stronger safeguards, greater accountability for technology platforms, and measures addressing harmful algorithms and online exploitation without broadly restricting young people's access.

Proposed restrictions not yet law

Despite securing final approval in the Senate, the SMART KIDS Act has not yet become law.

The House must still complete consideration of its counterpart measure, and any differences between the two versions would need to be resolved before a final bill could be submitted to the President.

For now, the proposed restrictions remain part of the legislative process, as lawmakers continue to weigh online safety concerns against young people's access to digital communication, education, and other services.

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