During the discussion of the Digital Code project in the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan, Deputy Askat Aimagambetov proposed the introduction of age restrictions for social media users, reports the agency Kazinform.
According to him, many children in the country start registering on platforms like TikTok and Instagram as early as 5-6 years old without parental consent and without proper verification.
“Many countries already have similar restrictions. For example, in Denmark and Australia, the minimum age for registration is 15-16 years. In the USA, the UK, and Ireland, parental permission and verification are required. We can implement such norms within the framework of this law,” the deputy noted, addressing representatives of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and the Ministry of Education.
In addition, Aimagambetov discussed the issue of smartphone use in educational institutions.
He emphasized that such restrictions are already successfully implemented in England and the Netherlands, and in advanced schools in Kazakhstan, such as NIS and BIL, smartphones are prohibited, which has positively affected communication among students and their academic performance.
In turn, Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Dmitry Mun stated that the ministry does not plan to introduce direct restrictions on social media registration; however, work on controlling children's access to content is actively ongoing:
“Currently, we strive to ensure various levels of access — to restrict content, but at the same time not to hinder development in accordance with modern realities,” he noted.
As for the ban on smartphone use in schools, such a measure is not provided for in the Digital Code project, Mun clarified.
“Our task is to educate the new generation on the proper use of technology to avoid the risks of falling behind in the application of modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and the internet,” the deputy minister added.
