Key facts
- Vietnam is drafting a decree to ban users under 16 from posting, commenting, or reacting on social media.
- Accounts for children under 16 would require registration with a parent or legal guardian.
- Social media platforms must implement technical measures to identify child users and ensure age-appropriate content.
- The proposal aims to protect minors from risks such as violence, pornography, gambling, and drugs.
- New restrictions on online gaming for minors are also proposed, including a 60-minute daily play limit for those under 16.
- The draft decree is not yet final and could be revised.
Vietnam is planning to implement a ban on social media usage for individuals under the age of 16, according to a draft decree reviewed by Reuters. This move aligns with a global trend of governments seeking to protect minors from the potential harms of social media. The proposed regulations would require social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from posting content, commenting, or reacting to posts. Accounts belonging to children under this age would need to be registered using information from a parent or legal guardian, who would then be responsible for supervising their online activity and time spent on the platforms.