House OKs bill for rules protecting kids on social media, online gaming

MANILA — The House of Representatives approved Monday on third and final reading a bill seeking to establish safety standards and regulatory measures to protect children on social media and online gaming platform.

With 288 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and zero abstention, the lower chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 11566 or the proposed Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces (Safe Acts) Act.

The bill establishes a minimum age requirement for social media and covered digital platforms, prohibiting children below 13 years old from creating, maintaining, or using accounts.

It also allows children aged 13 to 18  to access digital platforms, but with restrictions against harmful or prohibited content, behavioral profiling, unnecessary collection or sharing of personal information, purchases, and gambling-like mechanisms.

It further requires social media and covered online gaming platforms to conduct Child Safety Risk Assessments, and address harmful or prohibited content and high-risk features.

The proposed measure establishes an Office for Children’s Social Media and Digital Safety under the Department of Information and Communications Technology to monitor compliance, conduct technical assessments and preliminary investigations, and coordinate with relevant government agencies.

The National Telecommunications Commission is also tasked with administrative enforcement.

The bill also requires internet service providers s to cooperate with lawful orders and requests relating to data preservation, blocking or restriction, consistent with applicable laws and judicial safeguards.

Last week, the Senate approved a bill restricting social media use among minors.

The proposed measures follow growing concerns over the alleged grooming of minors on social media, including cases linked to violence such as school shootings.