startups: Vietnam wants under-16s to keep their accounts, just not

Vietnam's culture ministry has unveiled a draft decree proposing a unique approach to regulating social media use for minors. The controversial proposal, outlined on Thursday by Deputy Minister Phan Tam, suggests that users under 16 years old would be permitted to retain their social media accounts but would be explicitly barred from posting, commenting, or reacting to any content. This policy aims to foster an age-appropriate online environment while allowing continued access, diverging significantly from outright bans implemented elsewhere.

The draft decree represents a narrower and arguably more complex intervention than those seen in other nations, such as Australia's comprehensive ban on under-16s holding social media accounts. While other countries grapple with the fundamental challenge of verifying users' ages, Vietnam's proposition introduces an additional layer of complexity by maintaining accounts while severely restricting their functionality for minors. This "read-only" model leaves children present in the digital space but effectively silences their interactive voice.

A Unique Approach to Digital Safety

Under the proposed regulations, social media platforms would be tasked with the responsibility of verifying users' ages and registering accounts for individuals under 16 using the details of a parent or legal guardian. Parents would then assume oversight for their children's online viewing habits and duration. Such an approach leans heavily on the efficacy of age-verification mechanisms, which have proven difficult to implement successfully in other jurisdictions.

Beyond age verification, companies would also be mandated to proactively identify, flag, and block content deemed harmful, including material related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, and suicide. Furthermore, platforms would be required to apply the highest level of privacy protection to all accounts belonging to minors. These measures underscore the ministry's stated objective of protection rather than outright prohibition.

Deputy Minister Phan Tam emphasized this protective framing, stating that the primary goal 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 declaration positions the decree as a way to shape the online ecosystem for young users rather than to exclude them entirely.

Implementation Challenges and Global Context

A critical challenge within the draft lies in its lack of specific guidelines for how platforms are to technically differentiate between a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old. This ambiguity mirrors issues encountered in other countries; for instance, testers in Australia found that most major social media services failed to request age verification when accounts were opened by fictional teenagers. The practical implementation of such granular age-based restrictions remains a significant hurdle.

Vietnam's move aligns with a growing global trend of governments seeking to regulate children's social media use. Australia led the way in December, implementing a ban for under-16s that has since required sharper enforcement due to widespread non-compliance. France's parliament recently approved a ban for under-15s, while Britain is also contemplating its own set of restrictions. Vietnam's draft distinguishes itself by allowing access but governing the nature of participation.

The scope of the decree, in its current public version, is also somewhat undefined. It does not explicitly name the platforms it intends to cover. Given that many of Vietnam's largest online audiences engage with foreign services like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, these international companies would face the considerable task of integrating parent-linked registration and sophisticated content detection systems assumed by the new rules. Additionally, the enforcement mechanism for a posting ban, once a child is already logged into an account, remains unclear.

Broader Digital Control Landscape

Further extending its regulatory reach, the same draft decree also includes tighter controls on online gaming. Operators would be required to verify players' ages and impose a daily playtime limit of 60 minutes per company for under-16s. This limitation, however, could potentially be circumvented by children signing up for multiple services.

These proposed regulations do not emerge in isolation. Vietnam has consistently moved to assert greater control over its online landscape for several years. This includes previous decrees mandating identity verification for users and the removal of anonymous accounts, alongside a cybersecurity law that came into effect on July 1. The introduction of age gates and content restrictions fits logically within this broader governmental effort to manage digital activity.

The draft decree, if it survives redrafting, draws a novel boundary in online participation: an age where individuals are permitted to consume internet content but not contribute to it. This distinct approach highlights Vietnam's ongoing efforts to shape its digital future, presenting both opportunities and significant implementation challenges for tech companies and families alike.

FAQ

Q: What is the core proposal of Vietnam's new draft decree regarding social media for under-16s?

A: The draft decree proposes that individuals under 16 years old would be allowed to keep their social media accounts but would be prohibited from posting, commenting, or reacting to content. This aims to create an "age-appropriate environment" online.

Q: How does Vietnam's approach differ from social media regulations in other countries?

A: Unlike Australia and France, which have introduced outright bans on under-16s (or under-15s) holding social media accounts, Vietnam's draft preserves account access while restricting interactive functions. This "read-only" model is considered an outlier among global efforts.

Q: What challenges are anticipated with the implementation of this decree?

A: Key challenges include the difficulty of accurately verifying users' ages, as experienced in other countries, and the unspecified technical measures for differentiating age groups. Enforcing the posting ban on existing accounts and the scope of applicability to major foreign social media platforms are also significant open questions.