Vietnam Proposes Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s, Requiring Parental Registration

Vietnam is planning to require social media platforms to stop users under the age of 16 from posting content, commenting or reacting to posts, under a draft decree aimed at strengthening online protections for children, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The proposed rules would require social media accounts belonging to children under 16 to be registered using the information of a parent or legal guardian, who would be responsible for supervising the content viewed by children and the amount of time they spend on the platforms. The draft decree also requires social media companies to use technical measures to identify child users and ensure that they receive age-appropriate content. Platforms would have to provide the highest level of privacy protection for child accounts and proactively detect, warn and block access to content related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, suicide and other harmful material. "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," deputy culture minister Phan Tam said on Thursday during a meeting to discuss the proposed rules.

The proposal comes as governments across the world tighten regulations on children's use of social media amid growing concerns over online safety and the impact of harmful content on young users' mental health.

Earlier this week, French lawmakers approved a ban on social media access for children under 15. Australia became the first country to impose such a ban, while several other countries are considering similar measures. The draft decree also proposes new restrictions on online gaming by minors. Game operators would be required to verify users' ages, register accounts of children under 16 through a parent or legal guardian, and limit users under 16 to a maximum of 60 minutes of gameplay per day across games offered by the same company. The draft decree has not yet been finalised and may be revised before it is formally adopted.