Social media ban: Will Kazakhstan restrict children’s access to TikTok and Instagram?

Kazakhstan may restrict children’s and adolescents’ access to social media. The Government has drafted amendments introducing an age threshold for registration on online platforms, while the Ministry of Education is considering additional measures to protect schoolchildren. What measures are being proposed in Kazakhstan, read in El.kz overview.

Kazakhstan prepares to ban social media access for children under 16

In Kazakhstan, discussions on age restrictions have reached the legislative stage. In October 2026, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated in his response to a parliamentary inquiry that the Government had prepared amendments regulating the registration of minors on online platforms. The draft legislation is currently under consideration by members of the Kurultai.

The proposed measures would restrict registration for users under the age of 16. The proposal includes a ban on creating social media accounts, with an exemption for instant messaging services. This means that messaging applications and social networks could be subject to different legal frameworks.

As early as November 2025, Member of Parliament Askhat Aimagambetov proposed introducing age restrictions on social media registration, including on TikTok and Instagram, which are popular among teenagers. He cited international experience and the need to protect minors from harmful content.

At a meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2026, representatives of Kazakhstan confirmed that the relevant draft legislation was being prepared. According to the United Nations Office at Geneva, online platforms are expected to be responsible for verifying users’ ages. Representatives of Kazakhstan cited the risks of cyberbullying and the manipulation of children among the reasons for introducing the restrictions.

At present, the proposals remain under legislative consideration. The final mechanisms for age verification and the liability of online platforms are to be established by the adopted legislation.

What is the Ministry of Education proposing?

Minister of Education Zhuldyz Suleimenova previously confirmed that the Ministry was considering proposals to restrict children’s access to social media. A dedicated working group examined ways to protect minors from unlawful content.

At the same time, the Ministry is working on regulating smartphone use in schools. Restrictions on smartphone use during the educational process are being introduced in the country, primarily for primary and middle school students.

The Children of Kazakhstan Concept for 2026–2030, approved by the Government, separately identifies the need to establish a legislative framework governing minors’ access to social media, enhance the safety of online games, and reduce the adverse effects of excessive internet use. The document also provides for the development of digital safety skills.

Thus, the authorities are considering several complementary policy measures: age restrictions, accountability requirements for online platforms, parental controls, and education to promote safe online behaviour among children.