Astana, December 9, 2025 – The Europe Today: Kazakhstan is considering a new legislative proposal that would ban children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on online platforms, according to media reports. The initiative was confirmed by the Ministry of Culture and Information in response to an official inquiry from Qazinform News Agency.
The Ministry said the proposal emerged from a package of amendments to existing legislation that recently underwent public consultation. During the process, the ministry received a significant number of appeals from parents, teachers, and public organizations, expressing concern over children’s exposure to harmful online content.
“Based on their arguments, we studied international trends and obtained expert input. As a result, a decision was made to introduce a rule prohibiting children under 16 from creating accounts on online platforms,” the Ministry stated.
Messaging Apps Exempted
According to the Ministry, the proposed ban will not apply to messaging applications. Officials clarified that the intent is not to restrict communication, but to provide “additional security guarantees” for minors and protect them from negative or age-inappropriate content found on social media.
International Practices Considered
The Ministry emphasized that Kazakhstan is acting cautiously and studying international experiences. “A number of countries have imposed the same restrictions,” it noted, underscoring the global trend toward stricter online safety measures for children.
Implementation Mechanisms Under Review
If the public supports the proposed restriction, government agencies will begin drafting mechanisms for its implementation. One possible approach under consideration is requiring online platforms to introduce age-verification systems to ensure compliance.
The Ministry reiterated that the goal of the initiative is to enhance online safety for children and prevent potential risks associated with early exposure to social media.
