Vietnam is drafting a decree that would bar social media users under 16 from posting, commenting, or reacting.

It would also require their accounts to be registered with a parent or legal guardian’s information.

Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam outlined the proposal, which remains a draft and could still be revised before adoption.

Social media platforms would need technical measures to identify child users, apply the highest level of privacy protection to child accounts, and detect, warn about, and block harmful material.

The draft says this includes content related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, and suicide.

Game operators would have to verify users’ ages, register under-16 accounts through a parent or guardian, and cap play at 60 minutes a day for games provided by the same company.

The move would build on Vietnam’s broader internet controls, which already require users to verify their identities to post or comment on social networks.

It would also give parents or guardians control over gaming accounts belonging to children under 16.

France and Australia have also tightened rules for minors, including France’s under-15 social media ban and Australia’s ban on under-16s holding social media accounts.

🔗 Source: Reuters