Vietnam looks to restrict social media for children; Here’s a look at a growing number of other countries doing the same

Vietnam is considering the most bizarre version yet of a youth social media ban sweeping the world. Instead of kicking kids off the platforms entirely, the state wants to let them stay logged in, but just muted.

Under a draft decree from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, published by Reuters on Friday, users under the age of 16 will retain their social media accounts but will lose the ability to post, comment or interact with content. The proposal would require that social media accounts for children under 16 be registered under a parent, who would then be responsible for monitoring the content the child accesses and the time they spend on the platforms. The platforms themselves will be required to deploy technical measures to identify which of their users are children and restrict them to age-appropriate content.

Deputy Culture Minister Van Tam said the goal is not to ban or restrict children’s access to social media, but to ensure that they are in an age-appropriate environment when they use it. The decree has not been finalized and could still be revised before being adopted. Vietnam is also considering separate restrictions on gaming, which would limit playing time for users under 16 to 60 minutes per day per game and apply the same parental registration requirements used for social media accounts.

Over the past months, several countries have announced plans to restrict children and teens’ access to social media. Australia became the first country to implement such measures at the end of last year, setting a precedent that other countries are closely monitoring. Along with Vietnam, France recently announced such a measure.

Regulations and proposals put forward by governments around the world aim to reduce the pressures and risks young users may face on social media, which include cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators.

Of course, there are privacy concerns regarding age verification and excessive government intervention. Critics, including Amnesty International, have also said that such bans are ineffective and that they ignore the realities of younger generations. Many states are moving forward with the proposed legislation anyway.

If you’re interested in learning about which countries are considering social media bans for young users, or have already gone ahead, read on.

Australia

Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban prevents children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. It specifically does not include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids.

The Australian government said social media companies must take steps to keep children off their services. Companies that do not comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million (US$34.4 million).

The government says these platforms must use multiple verification methods to ensure that people using their services are over 16 years old. She also points out that they can’t rely on users simply entering their age.

Austria

Austria said in late March that it would ban social media use for children up to 14 years old. Draft legislation for the ban is expected to be completed by June.

Canada

The Canadian government introduced a digital safety bill in early June that would ban social media for children under 16. Under this legislation, social media giants can avoid bans if they prove they have policies to protect young users. Officials said it could take a year to pass the bill.

Denmark

Denmark is set to ban social media platforms for children under the age of 15. The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had received support for the ban from three ruling coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.

The government’s plans could become law in mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. The Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs is also launching a “Digital Evidence” app that includes age verification tools that can be used as part of the ban.

France

France passed a law on July 21 banning access to social media for anyone under 15. The law could come into effect on September 1. The law would also ban the use of cell phones in high schools, expanding the ban already in place in elementary and middle schools.

Germany

In early February, conservatives led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed a proposal to ban children under 16 from using social media, Reuters reported. However, there were signs that his centre-left coalition partners were reluctant to support an outright ban.

Greece

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that the country would ban access to social media for children under 15 starting in January 2027. Mitsotakis says the move aims to address growing anxiety and sleep problems among children, as well as the addictive design of social media.

Indonesia

Indonesia said in early March that it was banning children under 16 from using social media and other popular online platforms. The country plans to start with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.

Malaysia

The Malaysian government said in November 2025 that it plans to ban social media for children under 16. The state plans to implement the ban this year.

Poland

Bloomberg reported in February that Poland’s ruling party is drafting new legislation that would ban children under 15 from using social media.

Slovenia

Slovenia is drafting legislation that would ban children under 15 from accessing social media, the deputy prime minister announced in early February. The government wants to regulate social networks where content is shared, citing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

Spain

The Spanish Prime Minister announced in early February that the country plans to ban social media for children under 16. The ban still needs parliamentary approval. The Spanish government is also seeking to enact a law that would make social media executives personally liable for hate speech on their platforms.

turkey

In April, the Turkish Parliament passed a draft law to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 15. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the draft law for it to become law.

UK

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15 that his government would introduce a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. The ban will apply to a range of social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the ban. There will also be restrictions on AI tools, as AI-powered “romantic companion” chatbots will have to ensure they are only usable by people over the age of 18.

Experts wondered whether a comprehensive ban would be effective. Starmer acknowledged the challenges but said he believed they could be met. He said the ban could be implemented by spring 2027.

Vietnam

See above for the latest information on Vietnam’s proposal.

This story was originally published in February 2026 and is updated regularly with new information.