Vietnam’s Social Media Proposal Sparks Debate Beyond Child Safety
Vietnam’s proposed restrictions on social media use among users under 16 have sparked discussions about balancing child protection, digital safety, and young people’s online participation. The proposed regulation would allow children to access and view content but require platforms to limit their ability to post, comment, share, or react to content.
The initiative builds on Vietnam’s existing framework, introduced in 2024, which requires children under 16 to use accounts registered and supervised by parents or legal guardians. Experts suggest the new measures could reduce risks such as online exploitation, cyberbullying, scams, and harmful digital exposure.
Dr Gordon Ingram, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at RMIT University Vietnam, said restricting interactive features may help protect children from creating digital footprints that could expose them to online threats. However, he warned that excessive restrictions could reduce positive social connections and encourage teenagers to bypass controls through alternative accounts or platforms.
Dr Huo Chong Ling, Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering at RMIT University Vietnam, highlighted the importance of practical enforcement, noting that overly restrictive rules may lead users to seek workarounds. He recommended combining regulations with stronger age verification, parental controls, privacy protections, and safer platform design.
Experts emphasise that the goal should not be to prevent young people from engaging online entirely, but to create a safer digital environment that supports education, communication, and responsible social media use.
