Vietnam Proposes Social Media Curbs for Under-16s
By Technology Desk
Vietnam’s government is drafting strict new social media rules for under-16s, requiring parental oversight and content restrictions.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently drafting new regulations aimed at governing social media use for individuals under 16 years of age. These proposed rules seek to introduce significant restrictions on how minors interact with online platforms.
What the Proposed Rules Entail
The draft decree would specifically limit the ability of minors to post content, comment on posts, or react to material across various social media platforms. Accounts for individuals under 16 would require registration using details of a parent or legal guardian.
This guardian would then assume responsibility for actively supervising the child’s online activity and managing their screen time. The measure aims to create a more controlled digital environment for younger users.
Technical Mandates for Platforms
Social media companies face new technical obligations under the proposed regulation. They would need to develop and deploy advanced solutions to accurately verify user ages.
Platforms would also be responsible for filtering content to ensure it remains age-appropriate for minor users. The government’s stated objective is to enhance privacy and provide protection against harmful online content, rather than to completely block children from internet access.
Key Regulatory Details
Individuals impacted are those under the age of 16.
A related proposal includes a maximum daily play time of 60 minutes for online gaming for those under 16.
Broader Digital Landscape Control
This regulatory initiative forms part of a larger strategy by the Vietnamese government to manage its digital landscape, extending beyond social media to online gaming. Tech and gaming firms operating within Vietnam will need to significantly overhaul their user verification systems and compliance protocols.
Failure to comply with these forthcoming regulations could result in potential penalties for operating companies. This policy aligns with a growing global trend where governments are taking a firmer stance on child safety and mental health in the digital sphere.
Similar regulations are already active in countries such as France and Australia, indicating an increasing regulatory risk and potentially higher operating costs for global technology firms operating in these markets.