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Mental health group opposes blanket social media ban for minors - BusinessWorld Online

The measure requires platforms to remove under-18 accounts and adds fines of up to P20 million for violations.

  • On Monday, the Philippines House of Representatives approved the Children's Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act with 288 affirmative votes, banning social media access for children under 13.
  • The Senate previously passed the SMART KIDS Act on Thursday, October 8, imposing a stricter ban for anyone under 18 years old through a 16-1-0 vote.
  • Following three school shootings in the Philippines over three months, authorities linked the incidents to online content, raising concerns about potential grooming and youth exposure to violent material.
  • Lawmakers must reconcile the differing versions before submitting a final draft to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who recently questioned whether blanket bans could cause children to hide online activities.
  • Data from Indonesia shows TikTok deactivated around 9 million accounts for children under 16, yet the Philippine Mental Health Association argues blanket prohibitions fail to address root causes of youth violence.
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The Philippine House of Representatives has passed a bill banning children under the age of 13 from accessing social media. The Senate is proposing stricter restrictions, covering all minors. The regulations are not yet final, and the president warns of the consequences of a total ban.

·Warsaw, Poland
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ABS-CBN broke the news in Quezon City, Philippines (the) on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
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