Global trend grows as nations implement social media age restrictions for minors

Governments worldwide are intensifying efforts to regulate social media use among minors to combat issues such as cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content.

In China, a new draft regulation from the State Council proposes mandatory ‘minor modes’ for internet platforms serving users under 16. This would require platforms like Douyin and Weibo to implement strict age verification and restrict features such as live streaming, private messaging, and virtual intimacy services for minors. The regulation also emphasizes the responsibility of app stores and mobile device manufacturers to assist in age identification.

This movement aligns with global trends. Australia has implemented a ban on social media accounts for children under 16, which has already led to the closure of millions of accounts, though enforcement remains a challenge due to inconsistent age verification by platforms. Similarly, the European Union and California in the United States have introduced age-based restrictions for users under 15 and 16, respectively.

A central challenge for regulators remains the tension between effective age verification and user privacy. While strict methods like facial recognition or identity document checks ensure compliance, they raise significant data security concerns. Experts suggest a multi-layered approach, including national identity services, device-level integration, and behavioral analysis, may be necessary to balance safety with privacy.