A safe online environment for children.

Amid growing concerns about the negative impact of social media on children's mental and physical health, a wave of restrictions on children's social media use continues to spread globally.

Protecting children in cyberspace. (Illustrative image: VNA)

However, instead of completely "separating" children from social media, many experts suggest creating age-appropriate spaces to both protect them and equip them with essential digital skills.

Despite ongoing debate about its effectiveness, stricter regulations on children's use of social media are becoming a popular trend in many countries. Following Australia's pioneering move to ban users under 16 from social media in December 2025, many other countries have followed suit. Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first Arab nation to ban children under 15 from social media. Notably, the UAE requires companies to implement rigorous age verification mechanisms through digital identification and artificial intelligence technology. Self-declared age will not be accepted.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia are pioneering measures to ban social media accounts for children under 16. The Malaysian government states that this measure aims to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and features designed to encourage excessive use of the platform. Technology companies will have to add layers of safety protection, handle underage accounts, and remove harmful content. Meanwhile, many European countries are also building a "shield" to protect children from the risks of social media. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the country is working to enact a ban on social media use for children under 16 by December 2026.

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The wave of stricter controls on children's use of social media is expected to continue in the coming period, as more and more countries consider it a direct issue related to mental health, online safety, and children's development in the digital age. The European Commission (EC) recently published survey results showing that European teenagers spend an average of 4.5 hours per weekday and 6.1 hours per weekend on internet-connected devices. Of these, about 14% use electronic devices for 10 hours a day, more than a standard adult work shift. Nearly a third of respondents shared that social media makes them feel stressed, sad, or isolated. EC President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that this worrying reality is a strong warning sign that the EU cannot ignore the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

Many analysts assert that social media is "reshaping childhood" in a negative way, as children shift from environments of play, physical activity, and real-life interaction to a "virtual world " dependent on phones, which is difficult to control and easily addictive. Therefore, completely separating them from social media will help children increase direct connections, focus on learning, and develop essential skills for the future.

Some experts argue that an absolute ban may not be the optimal solution. Many countries around the world are exploring more flexible approaches.

Accordingly, the Canadian government has just introduced a digital safety bill proposing a ban on social media use for children under 16. However, platforms that meet stringent safety requirements for minors will be considered for exemption. The bill aims to tighten regulation of AI chatbots by establishing a digital regulatory body tasked with developing and overseeing safety standards. Researcher Brett Caraway at the University of Toronto (Canada) believes that instead of simply restricting access, the Canadian bill aims to redesign the social media ecosystem to be safer for children.

In the context of today's explosive growth in information technology and artificial intelligence, social media poses risks but also provides an environment for children to seek information, build digital skills, and connect socially. To protect children's access to technology and their learning and development needs without hindering their access to it, many countries around the world are moving towards balanced solutions in social media management.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/khong-gian-mang-an-toan-cho-tre-em-post970835.html