Senator Padilla urges swift ban on minors' social-media use citing bullying and shootings

In a radio interview, Senator Robin Padilla argued that escalating bullying, suicide incidents and school shootings among young people make stricter social-media controls essential. He advocated for the immediate implementation of Senate Bill 2424, the Smart Kids Act, which would prohibit individuals 17 and under from opening new accounts and require existing accounts to be disabled. The House of Representatives has already approved a comparable bill on second reading, but it limits account creation to those under 13.

Padilla highlighted concerns about minors’ exposure to harmful content, including non-consensual nude photos of women, and said the goal is to curb direct online communication among youths. However, he rejected a separate proposal that would force social-media companies to secure a franchise, calling it excessive. The debate reflects growing legislative focus on digital safety for children in the Philippines.