Deputy proposes restricting social media access for minors

Tengrinews.kz — Mazhilis MP Erlan Sairov has spoken out in favor of possible restrictions on social media access for underage citizens of Kazakhstan. The lawmaker sent an official inquiry on the matter to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva.
According to Sairov, the state is already taking steps in the digital sphere by blocking illegal content, protecting children from harmful information, and engaging with online platforms.

“At the same time, the rapid development of digital technologies requires us to further improve these approaches in order to build a coherent and systematic policy in this area,” the MP said.

Sairov argued that social media has become an environment where children’s consciousness is shaped on a daily basis, often without any oversight.

“This is no longer just a means of communication. It is a space that influences thinking, moral values, habits, and young people’s attitudes toward their own country. A simple rule applies here: if the state does not educate, the street does. And today, instead of the street, it is algorithms. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. If cynicism, aggression, and rejection of any authority are sown in the public space, it is naive to expect responsibility, creativity, and respect for the law from young people,” the MP added.

Sairov linked the issue of the digital environment to national security and recalled remarks made by fellow MP Sergey Ponomaryov at the fifth session of the National Kurultai in Kyzylorda. Ponomaryov had proposed restricting access to social media for children under the age of 14–16.

“This proposal deserves comprehensive consideration. International experience is particularly important here, especially in Europe, where there is a clear trend toward tightening rules for minors. For example, France has had a ‘digital age of consent’ law in place since 2023 for children under 15. In Norway and Spain, the minimum age for independent use of social networks was raised to 15 and 16 in 2024. In November 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution setting a unified minimum age of 16 across the European Union for independent access to platforms,” Sairov said.

The MP asked the Deputy Prime Minister to consider the possibility of introducing legislative restrictions on minors’ access to social media in Kazakhstan.