Vietnam Eyes Social Media 'Read-Only' Mode for Under-16s
Original: Vietnam is looking to restrict social media for kids; here are the growing number of other countries doing the same
Why This Matters
A global regulatory wave targeting youth social media access is forcing major platforms to build enforceable age-verification and content restriction systems at scale.
Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has drafted a decree that would allow users under 16 to retain social media accounts but strip their ability to post, comment, or react. Parental registration would be required, and platforms must enforce age-appropriate content filters. Gaming would be capped at 60 minutes per day per title for the same age group.
Vietnam is proposing one of the most distinctive youth social media policies globally. Under a draft decree reported by Reuters on July 24, 2026, children under 16 would not be banned outright from platforms, but would be placed in a 'read-only' mode — unable to post, comment, or react. Accounts for minors would need to be registered under a parent, who would bear monitoring responsibility. Platforms would be legally required to deploy technical measures to identify child users and restrict them to age-appropriate content. Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam stated the goal is to create an age-appropriate environment, not to impose an outright ban. The decree has not been finalized and remains subject to revision. Separately, Vietnam is also weighing a 60-minute daily gaming cap per title for users under 16, with the same parental registration requirement. Vietnam joins a growing international trend: Australia became the first country to implement a hard social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, covering platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, with non-compliance fines of up to AUD $49.5 million. France has also announced similar measures. Critics, including Amnesty Tech, argue such restrictions are ineffective and ignore how younger generations actually use digital tools, while privacy advocates raise concerns over age verification methods.