New bill seeks to ban social media for users under 16

CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva filed House Bill No. 8262 or the “Social Media Protection for Minors Act” that aims to ban minors under 16. 

According to the bill, the act is meant to regulate access to minors by establishing a minimum age when accessing social media platforms. 

The bill also writes that the burden of responsibility should be with the social media platforms rather than the users or their parents.

Platforms are set to follow guidelines and obligations under the bill to further implement the ban.

“Protecting minors from unfiltered and harmful social media exposure is a moral and national responsibility,” Villanueva said in a statement. 

“The unchecked impact of social media on young people–seen in addiction, exposure to sexual and violent content, exploitation and identity confusion–poses long-term dangers not only to individual well-being but also to social cohesion and civic life.

Social media platforms named, but not limited to are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. 

Global social media ban for minors

Five countries have already passed bills that ban social media for minors under 16 while three have begun implementation, according to Tech Policy’s Global Social Media Age Restriction Tracker. 

Australia implemented their ban last December 2024. Meanwhile, China has imposed strict regulations for minors under 18 since 2021.

Indonesia was the most recent to pass their bill last March, while Malaysia had passed the Online Safety Act in January 2026.

More countries are getting ready to follow suit, especially as lawmakers cite several studies that link social media to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. 

A 2023 study from Pew Research Center found that some “32% of American teens say social media has had a mostly negative effect on people their age, while 9% say this about social media’s effect on themselves.”