Kazakhstan prepares bill to ban social media access for children under 16

Tengrinews.kz – A draft law proposing a ban on registering users under the age of 16 on online platforms has been published in Kazakhstan. The initiative appears in the bill “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts on online platforms and mass media” posted on the Open NPAs portal. The document was developed by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

What the bill proposes

The key provision is outlined in a newly introduced Article 10-1 of the Law “On Online Platforms and Online Advertising.” It explicitly states:

“Registration of users on online platforms under the age of sixteen is prohibited, except for registration in instant messaging services” (draft law, Article 11, Clause 5 — new Article 10-1).

This means that children under 16 will not be allowed to create accounts on most platforms — including social networks, video-hosting services, and content platforms. The only exception will be messaging apps.

Why the restriction is being introduced

According to the explanatory note, the developers state that the purpose is to protect children from harmful and illegal content distributed on online platforms.

The document was prepared following the expanded government meeting on 28 January 2025, where officials were instructed to “consider introducing legislative responsibility for internet platforms regarding the dissemination of destructive content.”

Introducing an age barrier, the ministry says, is one of the measures aimed at creating a “safe information environment” and reducing risks for minors.

The bill includes a broad package of amendments — more than 80 changes across various laws.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Information, the proposed amendments are expected to:

• reduce the volume of illegal content;
• improve child safety online;
• create equal conditions for foreign and domestic digital market players;
• strengthen public trust in online platforms and mass media.

The explanatory note also states that implementing the law will not require budget spending and will not lead to negative socio-economic consequences.

When the law may take effect

Once adopted by Parliament and signed by the President, the law will enter into force 60 days after its official publication.

Earlier, on 12 November, Mazhilis deputy Askhat Aimagambetov proposed setting age limits for registering on social networks. He referred specifically to TikTok and Instagram, which are especially popular among children and teenagers in Kazakhstan. Aimagambetov noted that similar restrictions already exist in other countries. For example, in Denmark and Australia registration is allowed from the age of 15–16, while in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland parental permission and verification are required.