A Different Kind of Ban: Vietnam’s ‘Muted’ Approach

Vietnam is floating a novel idea in the global push to protect kids online. Instead of kicking under-16s off social media entirely, the government wants them to stay — but with their voices turned off.

A draft decree from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reported by Reuters, would let minors keep their accounts while losing the ability to post, comment, or react. Accounts would have to be registered under a parent, who’d monitor content and screen time. Platforms would need technical tools to identify child users and steer them toward age-appropriate material.

Deputy Culture Minister Phan Tam insists the goal isn’t a ban, but a safer environment. The decree isn’t final and could change. Vietnam is also mulling gaming limits — under-16s capped at 60 minutes per game daily, with the same parental registration requirement.

The Global Shift Toward Restricting Youth Access

Vietnam’s muted approach is creative, but it’s far from alone. Over the past year, a wave of countries has announced plans to restrict social media for children and teens. Australia led the charge in December 2025, and others are following.

These measures target familiar dangers: cyberbullying, addiction, mental health struggles, and predator exposure. Yet critics, including Amnesty Tech, argue bans are ineffective and ignore how young people actually live online. Privacy concerns about age verification also loom large. Still, many governments are pressing forward.

Country-by-Country: Who’s Banning Social Media for Kids?

Australia: The Pioneer

In December 2025, Australia became the first nation to ban social media for under-16s. The law blocks access to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. WhatsApp and YouTube Kids are exempt. Companies face fines up to $49.5 million AUD ($34.4 million USD) for non-compliance. The government insists platforms use multiple verification methods — not just self-reported ages.

Europe’s Mixed Front

Austria announced in late March it will ban social media for kids up to 14, with draft legislation expected by June. France passed a law on July 21 banning access for under-15s, effective as soon as September 1, plus a high school cell phone ban. Germany’s conservatives floated a proposal in February to bar under-16s, though coalition partners seem hesitant. Greece’s PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced an under-15 ban starting January 2027, targeting anxiety, sleep issues, and addictive design. Poland’s ruling party is drafting a similar under-15 ban. Slovenia is working on legislation for under-15s, citing TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Spain’s PM proposed an under-16 ban in February, pending parliament. The UK’s Keir Starmer announced on June 15 a ban for under-16s, covering Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X — but not WhatsApp or Signal. It could be in place by spring 2027. Denmark is set to ban under-15s, with law possible by mid-2026, and is developing a “digital evidence” app with age verification.

Asia and Beyond

Indonesia said in early March it’s banning under-16s from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. Malaysia plans a similar ban this year. Turkey’s parliament passed a bill in April restricting under-15 access, awaiting presidential approval.

What’s Driving the Crackdown?

Governments cite rising mental health issues, sleep deprivation, and the manipulative design of social apps. The bans aim to create breathing room for childhood development. But enforcement is tricky. Age verification raises privacy red flags, and tech companies resist. Critics also note that bans push kids to hidden corners of the internet.

Still, the momentum is undeniable. Social media age limits are becoming a mainstream policy tool, and parental control apps are likely to see a boom. Whether Vietnam’s muted middle ground works — or gets scrapped — remains to be seen.

This story was originally published in February 2026 and is updated regularly.

Facebook’s Marketplace Gets Its Own App

Facebook is making a serious play for the people who live on its Marketplace. The company announced a standalone app called Seller, built specifically for those who list items frequently. It’s a move that quietly acknowledges something important: Marketplace isn’t just a side feature anymore.

The numbers back that up. Facebook says Marketplace sees more than 430 million monthly listings and pulls in over 1.1 billion active users. For a lot of younger users, it’s the main reason they still open the app at all.

So what does the Seller app actually do? It lets you manage listings, message buyers directly, and track how your items are performing. Think of it as a command center for your selling operation, minus the clutter of the main Facebook feed.

Meta has been on an app-release spree lately. In May, it launched Forum, a Reddit-like space for Facebook Groups. This month, it dropped Pocket, a vibe-coding app. The pattern is clear: instead of cramming everything into one giant app, Meta is spinning out focused tools for specific behaviors.

Facebook Verified: A Free Badge, But Not That Badge

Here’s where things get interesting. Facebook is also rolling out Facebook Verified — and no, it’s not the same as Meta Verified.

Meta Verified is the paid subscription that gets you a blue checkmark and extra perks. Facebook Verified is free. The catch? You prove you’re a real human by taking a selfie. That’s it.

Once verified, you get a check mark inside a white circle on your profile across Facebook Dating, Marketplace, and Groups. It’s a subtler look than the blue badge, but the intent is bigger: cutting down on bots and impersonators in spaces where trust matters.

For sellers, this could be a quiet game-changer. A verified badge on Marketplace listings signals to buyers that you’re legit. For dating and groups, it’s a layer of safety that’s been missing.

Why Free Verification Matters

Scams on Marketplace are a known problem. Buyers get ghosted, sellers get fake payment confirmations. A free verification system doesn’t solve everything, but it gives people a way to stand out as trustworthy.

And it’s optional. You don’t have to verify to use these features. But if you’re serious about selling or building a reputation in a group, the badge might be worth the 30 seconds a selfie takes.

Full-Screen Video: The Feed Gets a Makeover

Facebook is also testing an immersive, full-screen video view that opens as soon as you launch the app. It’s a bold change — and one that might annoy you at first.

The company says the new interface will roll out initially to “video-heavy” international markets, with a U.S. debut sometime next year. If you hate it, there’s an escape hatch: you can switch back to the classic feed-based layout.

This isn’t a new idea. Instagram has tested a similar full-screen approach in several markets. The question is whether Facebook users will embrace it or revolt. Given how much people complain about every UI change, expect some noise.

AI Is Coming to the Seller App

Meta isn’t stopping at the app itself. The company says it plans to bake AI into Seller to automate the boring parts of selling.

Imagine typing a few keywords and having the app write a full product description for you. Or asking a question about a group and getting an answer without scrolling through endless threads. That’s the roadmap.

It’s a smart move. The biggest friction point for casual sellers is the listing process — taking photos, writing descriptions, pricing. If AI can handle the writing, more people might actually list their stuff instead of letting it gather dust.

What This Means for Sellers and Buyers

If you sell on Marketplace regularly, the Seller app is worth downloading. It’s a cleaner workflow, and the performance tracking alone could help you figure out what’s actually selling.

For buyers, the free verification system is a reason to pay attention. A verified seller is more likely to be real. That doesn’t guarantee a smooth transaction, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Meta’s broader strategy here is obvious: keep the people who still love Facebook engaged, and give them tools that feel modern. Whether that’s a standalone app, a free badge, or an AI assistant, the goal is the same — make Facebook indispensable again.

One thing to watch: how many users actually opt into Facebook Verified. If adoption is high, it could reshape trust signals across the platform. If it flops, it’ll be another quiet feature that fades away. Either way, sellers have a new tool, and that’s never a bad thing.

A Sudden End to a Landmark Case

The social media addiction lawsuit that was poised to become the first bellwether trial against Meta has been dropped. Just days before jury selection was set to begin in Los Angeles Superior Court, the plaintiff — a Florida teenager identified only as “R.K.C.” — voluntarily withdrew the case.

Meta confirmed the dismissal in a statement, emphasizing that no payment was made to the plaintiff. “This outcome makes clear that we will not back away from defending ourselves against baseless lawsuits,” the company said.

The abrupt end came less than 24 hours after Snap reached a tentative settlement with the same plaintiff, leaving Meta as the last defendant standing. That position lasted barely a day.

What Was the Case About?

R.K.C. was one of thousands of plaintiffs — teenagers, school districts, and state attorneys general — who accused the major tech platforms of knowingly engineering addictive products. The lawsuit targeted features like infinite scroll and the relentless ping of notifications, arguing these design choices were deliberately built to keep young users hooked.

The case carried outsized importance. As a bellwether trial, its outcome would have offered a preview of how juries might rule on the hundreds of similar suits still pending across the country. A verdict against Meta could have forced sweeping changes to how apps are built.

What Meta Planned to Argue

Court filings suggest Meta was ready to fight hard. The company intended to show that R.K.C. had used Facebook and Instagram for only minutes per day on average. Meta also planned to point out that most of the teen’s accounts were created only after he hired a lawyer.

Those arguments never got a hearing. The plaintiff’s decision to walk away — without a dime in compensation — raises questions about the strength of the case and the strategy behind the broader litigation.

Not All Good News for Meta

This dismissal doesn’t mean the company is out of the woods. Far from it.

Earlier this year, Meta suffered its first courtroom defeat over social media harms in a New Mexico case. A judge ordered the company to pay $375 million in penalties after finding it had misled consumers about platform safety and endangered children.

In March, a Los Angeles jury handed Meta and Google another loss, awarding roughly $6 million in damages to a plaintiff in a separate case. Those defeats show that juries and judges are increasingly willing to hold tech giants accountable.

What Happens Now?

The dismissal of this bellwether case doesn’t kill the broader litigation. Thousands of similar lawsuits remain active, and plaintiffs’ attorneys will likely regroup and search for a stronger vehicle for the next test case.

For Meta, this is a clear win — but a temporary one. The company still faces a mountain of legal challenges over teen safety and social media addiction claims. The pressure from regulators and lawmakers hasn’t let up either.

One thing is certain: the fight over how social media platforms are designed — and who bears responsibility for their effects on young minds — is far from over. This case may be gone, but the issue isn’t going anywhere.