Russia could soon ban children under 14 from social media

If passed, a new Russian law bill could see children under 14 banned from registering on online social media networks.

Submitted today by ultra-conservative MP Vitaly Milonov, best known for instigating Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law, the proposed legislation would force internet users to enter their passport details before being able to create an account on social media sites.

According to Russian news site Meduza, the bill also provides for a ban on using pseudonyms on social networks, and establishes strict regulations on mutual consent regarding publishing screenshots of online correspondence.

“Social networks create a special virtual world where a person spends significant part of their life, contacting other people and essentially doing everything that they would do in real world. This [virtual] world can’t be left unregulated by law. Especially now, when growing number of users are falling victim to different types of fraud,” the proposal reads.

Survey results published today by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) show that close to two-thirds of Russians (62 per cent) are in favour of the ban on children using social media, while 39 per cent support using passport data to create an account.

Source: The Moscow Times