Senator Win Gatchalian has renewed his call to prohibit minors from accessing social media platforms, following recent international developments aimed at protecting children online.

The senator cited Indonesia’s implementation of a social media ban for users below 16 years old, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to enforce such a policy. The regulation bars minors from creating accounts on “high-risk” platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Roblox.

Gatchalian also noted that the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) had earlier urged telecommunications companies to prepare for a possible nationwide block of Roblox to curb online exploitation and harmful content involving children.

His renewed push comes amid growing global concern over the impact of social media on youth, including a recent jury ruling in Los Angeles that found YouTube and Meta liable in a case involving childhood social media addiction.

The senator further referenced findings from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that every additional hour spent by 15-year-old Filipino students on digital devices for leisure was associated with a four-point decline in math performance.

“Huwag na nating hayaang lumala pa ang problema bago tayo kumilos,” Gatchalian said, stressing the need for immediate action.

He also pointed out that Australia became the first country to implement a nationwide ban on social media use for minors under 16, which took full effect in December 2025.

Gatchalian reiterated the importance of proactive measures to safeguard Filipino children from the risks posed by excessive and unregulated social media use.