Uzbekistan considers social media ban for children under 16

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ezozkhon Karimova, outlined plans to radically reform the rules governing minors in the virtual space during an interview with a correspondent from the Gazeta publication.

According to the head of the ministry, the country is considering the development and adoption of a special draft law that will introduce an official ban on the use of popular social networks by children and adolescents under the age of 16. The initiative has already received initial feedback within the country's highest legislative circles and is being prepared for full legal formulation.

The minister emphasized that the relevant ministry does not set a utopian goal to completely isolate the younger generation from modern mobile devices and communication tools, recognizing their importance in an age of rapid technological progress. Instead, state regulation will be directed toward creating a strict culture and safe norms for their daily operation.

Karimova recalled that administrative control measures have already been attempted in the country's educational institutions, including orders for the mandatory submission of mobile phones by students before entering school. However, due to inconsistent results in the local application of these rules, an urgent need has arisen for strict state control.

The regulation under development will serve as a logical continuation of international practice, as similar restrictive measures regarding gadgets and media platforms for minors are currently being actively implemented in many developed countries, including neighboring Kazakhstan.

Ezozkhon Karimova stated that the concept of the future document has already been discussed in detail during working meetings with deputies and senators of the Oliy Majlis. Once the text of the draft law regulating and legally restricting access to social networks for persons under 16 is finalized, the ministry and parliamentarians plan to submit it for nationwide public discussion to gather proposals from citizens and experts.