Vietnam is looking to restrict social media for kids; here are the growing number of other countries doing the same

Vietnam has become the latest country to consider restricting social media for kids, following in the footsteps of countries like Australia, which was the first to issue a ban in late 2025, aiming to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, including cyberbullying, social media addiction, and exposure to predators. This move has sparked a heated debate about the impact of social media on children's mental health, with 70 percent of parents in Vietnam supporting the proposed ban. The Vietnamese government has stated that it will introduce new regulations to limit social media usage for children under the age of 16, with potential penalties for non-compliant platforms. Why this matters to readers is that social media has become an integral part of modern life, and its effects on children are still not fully understood, with a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics finding that excessive social media use can lead to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in teenagers. For instance, a survey conducted by the UK's Office for National Statistics found that 45 percent of children aged 10 to 15 years old have experienced online bullying, highlighting the need for stricter regulations. The background context of this issue is that social media companies have been under increasing pressure to protect their young users, with many countries introducing new laws and regulations to hold these companies accountable, such as the UK's Online Safety Bill, which requires social media platforms to remove harmful content and protect children from online abuse. In 2020, a report by the US Federal Trade Commission found that social media companies were collecting data from children without their parents' consent, leading to a $170 million fine for one of the major social media platforms. What to expect next is that more countries will likely follow suit and introduce similar bans or regulations, with some countries like France and Germany already considering stricter rules for social media companies, and the European Union introducing new regulations to protect children's online privacy. The global implications of social media restrictions are far-reaching, with 3.8 billion people using social media worldwide, and the potential for these restrictions to impact the way people communicate and access information. The future of social media regulation is uncertain, but one thing is clear: governments around the world are taking a closer look at the impact of social media on children, and are taking steps to protect them, with 80 percent of parents in the US supporting stricter regulations on social media companies. The role of technology in social media regulation is also crucial, with many companies developing new tools and technologies to help protect children online, such as AI-powered content moderation and age verification systems. Social media companies are also taking steps to self-regulate, with some platforms introducing new features and policies to protect young users, such as Instagram's 'Take a Break' feature, which encourages users to take time off from the platform. The conclusion is that the move to restrict social media for kids is a growing trend that is likely to continue, with more countries introducing new regulations and laws to protect children from the potential risks of social media, and the key takeaway is that governments and tech companies must work together to find a balance between protecting children and preserving the benefits of social media, such as the ability to connect with others and access information and educational resources, with 90 percent of teenagers using social media to stay connected with friends and family.