Vietnam is preparing to introduce sweeping new restrictions on the use of social media by children under the age of 16, according to a draft decree reviewed by Reuters, marking the country’s latest effort to strengthen online protections for minors amid growing international concern over the effects of digital platforms on young users.
Under the proposed rules, social media platforms would be required to prevent users under 16 from posting content, commenting on posts or reacting to them. The draft decree would also require accounts belonging to children under 16 to be registered using the information of a parent or legal guardian, who would be responsible for supervising both the content viewed by the child and the amount of time spent using the platforms.
In addition to imposing greater parental oversight, the proposal would place new obligations on social media companies. Platforms would be required to implement technical measures capable of identifying child users and ensuring that content distributed to them is appropriate for their age. The draft also calls for the highest level of privacy protection for children’s accounts.
Addressing a meeting on Thursday to discuss the proposed regulations, Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam said the intention was not to prevent children from accessing social media altogether. “The primary objective is not to ban or excessively restrict children’s access to social media, but rather to ensure that when children use social media services, they are placed in an age-appropriate environment and protected from inappropriate risks,” he said.
The draft decree would further require platforms to take proactive measures to detect, warn against and block access to material considered harmful to children. This includes content related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, suicide and other harmful material, reflecting the government’s focus on creating a safer online environment for younger users.
Vietnam’s proposal comes as governments around the world continue to introduce measures aimed at addressing online safety concerns and limiting children’s exposure to harmful digital content. The draft reflects broader international concerns about the impact of social media and inappropriate online material on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
The move follows recent legislative developments elsewhere. On Tuesday, French lawmakers approved a ban on social media access for children under the age of 15. Australia was the first country to introduce such a ban, while several other countries are also pursuing similar measures as debate over children’s online safety continues to gain momentum.
The proposed reforms extend beyond social media and would also introduce tighter controls on online gaming by minors. According to the draft decree, game operators would be required to verify users’ ages and ensure that accounts belonging to children under 16 are registered through a parent or legal guardian.
The gaming proposals would also introduce limits on playing time. Children under the age of 16 would be restricted to no more than 60 minutes of gameplay per day for games provided by the same company, adding another layer of regulation intended to strengthen parental supervision and reduce excessive screen time.
The draft decree has not yet been finalised and remains subject to revision before any formal adoption. If approved, the measures would establish a comprehensive framework governing how children under 16 access social media and online games, while placing greater responsibility on both parents and digital platform operators to safeguard younger users in Vietnam’s online environment.
