Vietnam is looking to restrict social media for kids; here are the growing number of other countries doing the same

Published 24 July 2026 · tech

Vietnam is weighing the most unusual version yet of the youth social media bans that are sweeping the globe. Instead of kicking kids off platforms

Vietnam is weighing the most unusual version yet of the youth social media bans that are sweeping the globe. Instead of kicking kids off platforms entirely, the country wants to let them stay logged in — just muted. Under a draft decree from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reported on Friday by Reuters, users under 16 would keep their social media accounts but lose the ability to post, comment, or react to content. The proposal would require social media accounts for children under 16 to be registered under a parent, who would then be responsible for monitoring the content the child accesses and their time spent on the platforms. The platforms themselves would be required to deploy technical measures to identify which of their users are children and restrict them to age-appropriate content. Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam said the goal isn’t to ban or excessively restrict children’s access to social media, but to ensure they’re in an age-appropriate environment when they do use it. The decree hasn’t been finalized and could still be revised before adoption. Vietnam is also considering separate restrictions on gaming, which would cap play for under-16 users at 60 minutes a day per game and apply the same parental registration requirement used for social media accounts. Over the past months, many countries have announced plans to restrict social media access for children and teens. Australia became the first to implement such measures at the end of last year, setting a precedent that other countries are closely watching. Along with Vietnam, France more recently announced such a measure. The regulations and proposals being brought forth by governments around the world aim to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, which include cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators.

Of course, there are concerns about privacy regarding invasive age verification and excessive government intervention. Critics, including Amnesty Tech, have further said such bans are ineffective and that they ignore the realities of younger generations. Many nations are moving ahead with proposed legislation anyway. If you’re curious about the countries that are considering or have already moved forward with bans on social media for young users, read on. Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban blocks children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. It notably doesn’t include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids. The Australian government has said these social media companies must take steps to keep children off their services. Companies that fail to comply may face penalties of up to $49.5 million AUD ($34.4 million USD). The government says these platforms should use multiple verification methods to ensure that people using their services are older than 16. It also notes that they can’t rely on users simply entering their own age. Austria said in late March that it will ban social media for children up to the age of 14. Draft legislation for the ban is expected to be finalized by June. Canada The Canadian government introduced a digital safety bill in early June that would ban social media for children under 16. Under the legislation, social media giants could sidestep the ban if they demonstrate they have policies to protect young users. Officials have said it could take a year for the bill to pass. Denmark is set to ban social media platforms for children under 15. The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for the ban from three governing coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.