Vietnam and EU move to tighten social media rules for minors

Vietnam is preparing a decree that would prohibit users under 16 from publishing, commenting on or reacting to posts on social‑media platforms. The draft requires parental or guardian registration for all minor accounts, obliges platforms to identify under‑age users, limit exposure to harmful content and restrict gaming time to 60 minutes per day. Deputy Minister of Culture Phan Tam said the goal is to create a safer digital environment for children.

The European Commission has opened an investigation under the Digital Services Act, accusing TikTok of insufficient protection for under‑18 users. The Commission warns that publicly visible minor profiles can increase risks of online harassment and unwanted contact, and it may require TikTok to disable algorithmic promotion of minors’ content. If violations are confirmed, TikTok could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.