After Australia And France, Vietnam Weighs Social Media Curbs For Under-16s
After Australia And France, Vietnam Weighs Social Media Curbs For Under-16s Published By, Last Updated: July 27, 2026, 09:44 IST If adopted, platforms would be
After Australia And France, Vietnam Weighs Social Media Curbs For Under-16s Published By, Last Updated: July 27, 2026, 09:44 IST If adopted, platforms would be required to cooperate with authorities by creating reporting mechanisms for cases involving child abuse or exploitation. The draft decree is currently under consideration and has not yet been approved. Vietnam is considering sweeping new restrictions on children’s use of social media, including banning users under the age of 16 from posting, commenting or reacting to content, as the country moves to strengthen online protections for minors. Under a draft decree released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, children under 16 would only be allowed to use social media accounts registered by a parent or legal guardian, who would also be responsible for monitoring their online activity and screen time.
The proposal would also require social media companies to deploy age-verification measures to identify child users and ensure they are shown only age-appropriate content. “The primary goal is not to ban or overly restrict children from social media but to ensure that when they use these platforms, they are in age-appropriate spaces and protected from harmful risks," Vietnam Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam said. If adopted, platforms would also be required to cooperate with authorities by creating reporting mechanisms for cases involving child abuse or exploitation and sharing relevant information with officials when such incidents are detected. The draft rules further mandate the highest level of privacy protection for children’s accounts and require platforms to block minors from accessing content related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, suicide and other harmful material.
The proposal is part of a broader global push to tighten children’s online safety. France this week approved a ban on new social media accounts for children under 15, while Malaysia has introduced mandatory age verification for social media users. Vietnam is also weighing stricter rules for online gaming. Under a separate proposal, children would be required to register gaming accounts through a parent or legal guardian, while game operators would have to limit minors’ playtime to no more than 60 minutes a day. The draft decree is currently under consideration and has not yet been approved. If enacted, it would make Vietnam one of the latest countries to impose tougher safeguards on children’s digital activity amid growing concerns over harmful online content and excessive screen time.
The BriefWire