Vietnam proposes 'read-only' social media mode for users under 16

The proposal shifts the regulatory focus from total exclusion to restrictive inclusion, presenting a unique technical challenge for platform architecture. If adopted, it would fragment the APAC user experience, forcing platforms to build 'read-only' logic specifically for Vietnam while navigating the data privacy risks of parental verification. For the broader industry, this adds to a growing patchwork of global compliance requirements. Streaming and social giants must now weigh the costs of these technical adaptations against the performance of their age-verification systems, which are currently under intense scrutiny for high failure rates in other early-adopter markets like Australia. Watch for whether platforms like Meta push for standardized EU-style 'digital wallets' to simplify this regional compliance.

The global push for underage social media restrictions is accelerating as more nations finalize their enforcement frameworks. Per IAPP in July 2026, the French Parliament recently passed legislation that will require all social media platforms to verify user ages beginning September 1, 2026. This mandate includes a 'digital age of majority' set at 15, with accounts for younger children requiring explicit parental consent and platforms facing potential fines of up to 3% of global turnover for non-compliance. These moves echo the United Kingdom’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which according to recent reports, is expected to implement an 'Australia Plus' ban for those under 16 by spring 2027.

However, the efficacy of existing bans remains a point of significant industry contention. Per Reuters in July 2026, a study of Australia’s world-first social media ban found it largely ineffective six months after implementation. Testing showed that nine out of ten regulated platforms, including Instagram and YouTube, failed to trigger age-assurance checks for test accounts claiming to be 16. In response, the Australian government doubled the maximum penalty for non-compliance to $99 million AUD ($66 million USD) in June 2026. Meanwhile, the European Commission is attempting to streamline these requirements by rolling out a 'mini-wallet' age-verification tool, which reached technical readiness in April 2026 and aims for a Union-wide release by year-end to mitigate the fragmentation caused by individual state laws. UAE mandates social media age verification for users under 15 is the latest example of this trend.