Will Teenagers Be Banned from Social Media? Draft Law to Be Reviewed by the New Parliament

Decisions regarding the restriction of social media registration for children under the age of 16 in Kazakhstan may be reviewed on the floor of the new parliament. This was announced by the Vice-Minister of Culture and Information, Yevgeniy Kochetov.

According to him, the Ministry of Culture and Information has developed a corresponding package of legislative amendments. The document includes a provision aimed at restricting children under 16 from registering on social media platforms.

The Vice-Minister noted that the precise enforcement mechanisms have not yet been fully determined. Currently, the proposals are being discussed among state authorities, and the draft law has not yet been introduced to Parliament.

Kochetov stated that this issue is being widely debated globally, with a number of European countries considering similar restrictions. Consequently, the necessity of introducing such measures in Kazakhstan is also being highlighted.

According to preliminary data, the restriction may primarily apply to users opening new accounts. How these regulations will affect children who are already registered remains unknown for now.

The draft law also encompasses other regulations concerning the oversight of online platforms and media services. The document is currently under consideration by the Government, and further discussions will continue within the framework of the new parliament—the Kurultai.