Restricting Social Media for Kids: A Global Trend

In a move that’s gaining attention worldwide, Vietnam is considering a unique approach to restricting social media for children under 16. Instead of banning them from platforms entirely, the country wants to let them stay logged in – just muted. According to a draft decree from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 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 explained that 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.

A Growing Number of Countries Following Suit

Vietnam’s approach may be inventive, but it’s hardly alone. 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.

Here’s a list of countries considering or having already moved forward with bans on social media for young users:

• Australia: Banned social media for children under 16 in December 2025, blocking access to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick.
• Austria: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children up to the age of 14, expected to be finalized by June.
• Canada: Introduced a digital safety bill in early June that would ban social media for children under 16, with the possibility of sidestepping the ban if social media giants demonstrate policies to protect young users.
• Denmark: Set to ban social media platforms for children under 15, with plans to implement the ban as soon as mid-2026.
• France: Passed a law on July 21 banning access to social media for anyone under 15, with the ban expected to go into effect as soon as September 1.
• Germany: Discussed a proposal to bar children under 16 from using social media, although center-left coalition partners were hesitant to support an outright ban.
• Greece: Announced plans to ban access to social media for children under 15 starting January 2027, aimed at tackling rising anxiety and sleep problems among children.
• Indonesia: Banned children under the age of 16 from using social media and other popular online platforms, starting with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
• Malaysia: Planned to ban social media for children under 16, with implementation expected to occur this year.
• Poland: Drafted new legislation to ban children under 15 from using social media, with the goal of regulating social networks where content is shared.
• Slovenia: Drafted legislation to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, with the aim of regulating social networks where content is shared.
• Spain: Announced plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16, with the ban still requiring parliamentary approval.
• Turkey: Passed a bill to restrict social media access for children under 15, pending acceptance by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• U.K.: Announced plans to impose a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age, with limitations on AI tools and messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal excluded from the ban.

Expert Opinions and Concerns

Experts have questioned whether a blanket ban would be effective, with some arguing that it ignores the realities of younger generations. Critics, including Amnesty Tech, have said such bans are ineffective and that they ignore the complexities of social media use among young users.

Concerns have also been raised about privacy, with invasive age verification measures and excessive government intervention sparking debate. However, many nations are moving ahead with proposed legislation anyway.

While the proposed bans aim to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, including cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.