Vietnam is shaking up how kids use social media. The government is crafting a new draft decree that lets children under 16 keep their social media accounts, but with a catch. They won’t be able to post, comment, or react. It’s a bold move that draws a clear line between just browsing and actively engaging online.
Keeping Accounts Without Posting
The draft decree, published on July 24, 2026, sets strict limits for under-16 users. Kids can stay logged in on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, which host Vietnam’s largest online audiences. But they cannot post content, leave comments, or react to posts. This means children can read and watch but can’t respond or create content. It’s a fresh way to protect young users without kicking them off social media entirely.
Deputy Minister Phan Tam explained the goal clearly: “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.” This approach balances access with safety. It recognizes kids want to be online but need rules that fit their age.
Age Verification and Parental Control
The decree would require platforms to verify every user’s age. Under-16 accounts must be registered with a parent or guardian’s details. This makes parents responsible for supervising what their kids watch and how long they spend online. The decree even sets limits on gaming. Kids under 16 can only play for 60 minutes per day per company.
- Platforms must verify ages and register under-16 accounts through parents
- Parents are tasked with monitoring content and screen time
- Gaming operators must cap playtime at 60 minutes daily for under-16s
The draft asks companies to use technical measures to identify child users but doesn’t specify exactly how. Platforms will also need to detect and block harmful content like violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, and suicide material. They must issue warnings and actively prevent kids from accessing such unsafe content.
Vietnam’s Tightening Online Rules
This draft decree follows years of Vietnam tightening control over online activity. The country already enforces identity verification on platforms and launched a cybersecurity law that took effect on July 1, 2023. These laws aim to create a safer, more controlled internet environment. The new rules build on that foundation by focusing on children’s online experiences.
Vietnam’s culture ministry is leading this effort. The decree hasn’t been finalized yet and could change before adoption. No official date has been set for implementation. But the draft signals a clear direction: children may browse the internet freely, but they won’t be able to “answer” it by posting or reacting until they reach a certain age.
What’s Next for Kids Online in Vietnam?
This development raises big questions. Will other countries follow Vietnam’s lead? Can social media platforms build the technology to identify kids and restrict their interactions without blocking access? How will parents adapt to new responsibilities for monitoring screen time and content?
One thing is clear: Vietnam is drawing a fresh boundary in digital childhood. It’s not about shutting kids out. It’s about controlling how they engage online. This approach could reshape online safety policies worldwide.
Keep an eye on this space as Vietnam’s draft decree moves closer to becoming law. The digital playground is changing — and the rules of play are evolving fast.
Based on
- Vietnam wants under-16s to keep their accounts, just not post on them — thenextweb.com
- Another country considers banning under-16s from posting on social media | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- Lawmakers say they’re protecting kids—but their age checks are quietly building an ID requirement for the entire internet | Fortune — fortune.com
- These are the countries moving to ban social media for children | TechCrunch — techcrunch.com
- French youth social media ban meets age check conundrum — france24.com
