Hanoi, Vietnam – In a move that stands out from the growing global wave of youth social media restrictions, Vietnam is considering a unique regulatory approach: allowing children under 16 to retain their social media accounts but stripping them of the ability to post, comment, or react to content. This "muted" access proposal, detailed in a draft decree from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, represents an innovative, albeit potentially complex, strategy to safeguard young users from online harms.
The draft legislation, reported by Reuters on Friday, mandates that social media accounts for individuals under the age of 16 must be registered under a parent or legal guardian. These guardians would then bear the responsibility for monitoring their child’s online activities, including the content they access and the duration of their platform usage. Furthermore, social media companies would be obligated to implement technical measures to accurately identify underage users and restrict their exposure to age-appropriate content.
Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam articulated the government’s stated objective, emphasizing that the intention is not to implement outright bans or excessively curtail children’s access to social media. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that young users engage with these platforms in an environment suitable for their developmental stage. The decree is still in its preliminary stages and is subject to revision before final adoption. In parallel, Vietnam is reportedly exploring separate regulations for the gaming industry, which could cap daily playtime for users under 16 at 60 minutes per game and impose the same parental registration requirement as the proposed social media rules.
Vietnam’s distinctive "muted" approach emerges at a time when numerous countries worldwide are grappling with the pervasive influence of social media on young minds. The past year has witnessed a significant surge in legislative proposals and implementations aimed at restricting children’s access to these platforms. Australia, in late 2025, became the first nation to enact comprehensive measures, setting a precedent that other countries are closely observing. Alongside Vietnam, France has also recently announced similar initiatives.
The driving force behind this global regulatory push is the mounting concern over the detrimental effects of social media on adolescent well-being. Issues such as cyberbullying, the potential for addiction, negative impacts on mental health, and the risks of exposure to online predators are frequently cited as primary motivators for these governmental interventions.
However, these proposed regulations are not without their critics. Concerns have been raised regarding privacy implications, particularly concerning the invasiveness of age verification technologies and the potential for excessive government oversight. Organizations like Amnesty Tech have voiced their reservations, arguing that blanket bans may prove ineffective and fail to acknowledge the nuanced realities of how younger generations engage with digital spaces. Despite these critiques, many nations are moving forward with their legislative agendas.
A Global Landscape of Youth Social Media Restrictions
The trend of restricting social media access for minors is a rapidly evolving international phenomenon, with various countries adopting different timelines and methodologies.
-
Australia: In December 2025, Australia made history by becoming the first country to implement a ban on social media for children under 16. This sweeping legislation covers popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick, though it notably excludes messaging services like WhatsApp and YouTube Kids. The Australian government has placed the onus on social media companies to actively prevent underage access, with non-compliance potentially leading to penalties of up to AUD $49.5 million (approximately USD $34.4 million). The government insists that platforms must employ robust verification methods beyond simple age self-declaration.
-
Austria: In late March, Austria announced its intention to ban social media for children up to the age of 14. Draft legislation is anticipated to be finalized by June, indicating a swift progression towards implementation.
-
Canada: Early June saw the Canadian government introduce a digital safety bill that includes provisions to ban social media for individuals under 16. The legislation offers a potential avenue for social media giants to circumvent the ban by demonstrating effective policies for protecting young users. Officials estimate that the legislative process could take up to a year to complete.
-
Denmark: Denmark is poised to implement a ban on social media platforms for children under 15. The government secured parliamentary support for this measure in November 2025 from a coalition of governing parties and opposition factions. The legislation could potentially become law by mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. The Danish digital affairs ministry is also developing a "digital evidence" app, which may incorporate age verification tools to aid in enforcing the ban.
-
France: On July 21, France enacted a law prohibiting access to social media for individuals under the age of 15. This law could come into effect as early as September 1. The legislation also extends a cell phone ban to high schools, building upon existing prohibitions in primary and middle schools.
-
Germany: In early February, Germany’s conservative CDU party debated a proposal to prohibit children under 16 from using social media. However, indications suggest that coalition partners within the center-left government are hesitant to endorse an outright ban.
-
Greece: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that Greece will ban social media access for children under 15, effective January 2027. Mitsotakis has stated that the move is aimed at combating rising anxiety and sleep disorders among children, as well as addressing the addictive design of social media platforms.
-
Indonesia: In early March, Indonesia declared its intention to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media and other popular online platforms. The initial focus is expected to be on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
-
Malaysia: The Malaysian government announced in November 2025 that it plans to ban social media for children under 16, with the implementation targeted for the current year.
-
Poland: Poland’s ruling party is currently drafting new legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from using social media, as reported by Bloomberg in February.
-
Slovenia: In early February, Slovenia’s deputy prime minister announced that the country is preparing legislation to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media. The government aims to regulate platforms where content is shared, specifically mentioning TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
-
Spain: Spain’s Prime Minister announced in early February that the country intends to ban social media for children under the age of 16, pending parliamentary approval. Additionally, the Spanish government is pursuing legislation to hold social media executives personally accountable for hate speech disseminated on their platforms.
-
Turkey: In April, the Turkish parliament passed a bill to restrict social media access for children under 15. The bill requires the endorsement of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to become law.
-
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15 that the UK government will implement a ban on social media use for children under 16. This ban is slated to affect platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are exempt. The government also plans to impose limitations on AI tools, specifically targeting AI "romantic companion" chatbots to ensure they are only accessible to individuals aged 18 and over. While acknowledging the enforcement challenges, Starmer expressed confidence in the feasibility of the ban, with a potential implementation by spring 2027.
Analysis of Implications and Underlying Concerns
The widespread adoption of youth social media restrictions, including Vietnam’s novel "muted" proposal, reflects a growing global consensus on the need to mitigate the risks associated with unsupervised online engagement for minors. The potential benefits of these regulations are significant, aiming to foster healthier digital habits, protect children from online exploitation, and alleviate mental health pressures.
However, the implementation of such measures raises critical questions about privacy, freedom of expression, and the practicalities of enforcement. Age verification remains a complex technological and ethical challenge, with concerns about data privacy and the potential for misuse of sensitive information. Critics argue that these regulations, while well-intentioned, could stifle digital literacy and hinder the development of critical online skills necessary for navigating the modern world. The debate also touches upon the balance between parental responsibility and government intervention, as well as the extent to which technology companies should be held accountable for user behavior.
Vietnam’s approach, by allowing continued account access but restricting interactive features, offers a unique perspective on this ongoing global dialogue. It suggests a potential middle ground that acknowledges the social and informational value of these platforms while prioritizing user safety. The success of such a model will hinge on the effectiveness of parental oversight and the technical capabilities of social media platforms to accurately implement the proposed restrictions. As more countries forge ahead with their own regulatory frameworks, the international community will be closely watching the outcomes and lessons learned from these diverse approaches to protecting the digital lives of young people. The evolution of these policies will undoubtedly shape the future of social media engagement for generations to come.
About the Author
