Vietnam is weighing the most unusual version of social media bans for young people sweeping the world. Instead of kicking kids off the platforms entirely, the country wants to let them stay connected — just on mute.
According to a draft decree of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, was mentioned According to Reuters on Friday, users under 16 would keep their social media accounts but lose the ability to post, comment or react to content. The proposal would require social media accounts for children under 16 to be registered by a parent, who would then be responsible for monitoring the content the child accesses and the time spent on the platforms. The platforms themselves should implement technical measures to identify which of their users are children and limit them to age-appropriate content.
Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam said the aim is not to ban or overly restrict children’s access to social media, but to ensure they are in an age-appropriate environment when using it. The ordinance has not been finalized and could still be revised before approval. Vietnam is also considering separate restrictions on gaming, which would limit gaming for users under 16 to 60 minutes per day per game and apply the same parental registration requirement used for social media accounts.
Vietnam’s approach is inventive, but it is far from alone. In recent months, many countries have announced plans to restrict access to social media for children and teenagers. Australia became the first to implement such measures late last year, setting a precedent that other countries are watching closely. 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, such as cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues and exposure to predators.
Of course, there are privacy concerns about invasive age verification and excessive government interference. Critics included Amnesty Techthey further stated that such bans are ineffective and ignore the reality of younger generations. Many nations are moving forward with the proposed legislation anyway.
If you’re curious about countries that are considering or have already moved ahead with social media bans for young users, read on.
Australia
Australia became the first country in the world to social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban prevents children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Specifically, it doesn’t include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids.
The Australian government said these social media companies must take steps to prevent children from using their services. Non-compliant companies could face penalties of up to AUD 49.5 million (US$34.4 million).
The government says these platforms will have to use multiple verification methods to ensure people using their services are over 16. He also notes that they can’t rely on users simply entering their own age.
Austria
Austria said in late March that it would social media ban for children up to 14 years old. By June, the bill for the ban is expected to be finalized.
Canada
The Canadian government introduced a digital security bill in early June it would ban social media for children under 16. Under the law, social media giants could get around the ban if they can prove they have policies in place to protect young users. Officials said it could take a year to pass the bill.
Denmark
Denmark is is banned social media platforms for children under 15; The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for the ban from three governing coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.
The administration’s plans could become law by mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. Denmark’s Ministry of Digital Affairs is also launching a “digital evidence” app that includes age verification tools that may be used as part of the ban.
France
France passed the law on July 21 access denied on social media for anyone under 15. The law could take effect from September 1. The law would also ban cell phone use in high schools, expanding a ban already in place in elementary and middle schools.
Germany
In early February, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives discussed a proposal at the bar children under 16 from using social media, Reuters reported. However, there were signs that his centre-left coalition partners were reluctant to back a full ban.
Greece
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that the country would banning access to social media for children under 15 from January 2027. Mitsotakis says the move is aimed at tackling increasing stress and sleep problems among children, as well as the addictive design of social media.
Indonesia
Indonesia said in early March that it is no children under 16 years old from using social media and other popular online platforms. The country plans to launch with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Malaysia
The Malaysian government said in November 2025 that it intends to do so social media ban for children under 16. The country plans to implement the ban this year.
Poland
Poland’s ruling party is working on new legislation that will no children under 15 years old from using social media, Bloomberg reported in February.
Slovenia
Slovenia is drafting legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing social media, the country’s 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 Prime Minister of Spain 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 create a law that would make social media executives personally liable for hate speech on their platforms.
Turkey
The Turkish Parliament in April passed a bill to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 15; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the bill for it to become law.
United Kingdom
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was announced on June 15 that his government would impose a ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 16. The ban will apply to a number 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, with AI ‘romantic partner’ chatbots having to ensure they can only be used by over-18s.
Experts questioned whether a blanket ban would be effective. Starmer has acknowledged the challenges but said he believes it is possible to prevail. He said a ban could take effect by spring 2027.
Vietnam
See above for the latest on the Vietnam proposal.
This story was originally published in February 2026 and is regularly updated with new information.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.
