Vietnam proposes stricter social media rules for children under 16

MUMBAI: Vietnam is looking to put the brakes on scrolling before it becomes second nature. The country is considering sweeping new rules that would significantly restrict how children under the age of 16 use social media, as governments worldwide step up efforts to make the internet a safer place for young users.

A draft decree would prohibit users below 16 years from posting content, commenting or reacting to posts on social media platforms. Instead, platforms would be required to create a more tightly controlled online environment tailored to younger users.

The proposal also seeks to place parents firmly in the digital driving seat. Social media accounts belonging to children under 16 would have to be registered using the details of a parent or legal guardian, who would be responsible for supervising the child’s online activity, including the content they access and the amount of time they spend on social media.

To support the new framework, platforms would be required to introduce age-verification systems capable of identifying underage users and ensuring that the content served to them is appropriate for their age.

Speaking at a government meeting on the proposed regulations, Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam said the intention was not to block children from using social media altogether, but to ensure they interact with digital platforms in a safer environment with stronger protections against harmful material.

The draft also proposes stricter privacy safeguards for children’s accounts. Social media companies would be expected to identify, warn against and restrict access to content involving violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, suicide and other potentially harmful material.

The proposal mirrors a broader global push towards tighter online safety rules for minors. Several countries have recently introduced or proposed legislation aimed at limiting children’s access to social media or strengthening age-verification requirements. France, for instance, has moved closer to restricting social media access for children under 15.

Vietnam’s plans extend beyond social media. The draft decree also introduces tighter controls for online gaming, requiring gaming platforms to verify users’ ages and register accounts for children under 16 through parents or legal guardians.

In addition, children would be limited to a maximum of 60 minutes of gameplay per day for games operated by the same provider, marking one of the country’s most stringent proposals to regulate young users’ screen time.

The draft decree is still under review and could be revised before it is formally adopted. Even so, the proposals highlight how governments are increasingly shifting from simply encouraging online safety to embedding it into law as concerns over children’s digital wellbeing continue to grow.