DOLE: Children Under 15 in Vlogs, Livestreams, and Online Content May Require Work Permit

 

The Department of Labor and Employment has clarified that child labor regulations extend beyond traditional entertainment and now apply to the rapidly expanding world of digital content creation. Children younger than 15 who appear in vlogs, livestreams, social media videos, digital advertisements, podcasts, web series, and similar online productions may be required to obtain a Working Child Permit before participating.

The guidance comes through Labor Advisory No. 12, Series of 2026, signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on July 21. The advisory reminds parents, legal guardians, employers, and content producers that existing child labor protections remain fully enforceable regardless of whether content is distributed through television, radio, or modern digital platforms.

DOLE emphasized that the determining factor is not the platform where the content is published but the nature of the child's participation. Whether a production is streamed to millions online or broadcast through conventional media, the same legal standards designed to safeguard children continue to apply.

Republic Act No. 9231 generally prohibits the employment of children below the age of 15. The law recognizes only limited exceptions. A child may work under the exclusive responsibility of a parent or legal guardian in an undertaking that employs only family members, or when the child's participation is indispensable to public entertainment or information activities. Even under these exceptions, legal requirements must still be observed.

When a child's participation falls within the scope of Department Circular No. 2, Series of 2018, employers or production entities must first obtain a Working Child Permit from DOLE before any engagement begins. The circular governs children below 15 who take part in public entertainment or information activities, whether these are produced for traditional media or digital distribution.

For family-managed content, responsibility does not disappear simply because parents oversee the production. DOLE stressed that parents and legal guardians remain accountable for complying with Republic Act No. 9231 and its implementing rules whenever children participate in media-related work.

The advisory reinforces a broader principle that the digital economy should not weaken long-standing child protection standards. As content creation evolves into a significant source of income and influence, legal safeguards are intended to ensure that children are protected from exploitation, excessive work demands, and unsafe production environments while preserving their welfare, education, and fundamental rights.