Armenia’s education authorities announced on Friday that a potential ban on social media access for children under sixteen is under review.

Tamara Sargsyan, Head of the Department of General Education at Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, stated during a press conference today that the proposed restriction is being evaluated in collaboration with the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

"We are conducting a study to assess all significant opportunities, risks, and challenges. A comprehensive understanding will enable the development and application of appropriate regulations. This will also clarify which specific websites may require restriction. The issue is complex and multifaceted, requiring careful consideration," said Sargsyan.

Sargsyan acknowledged existing problems in this sector and emphasized the necessity of establishing effective regulations. Ensuring children's digital safety remains a priority, and the state must be assured that adequate mechanisms and policies are available to safeguard children in the online environment.

A study (Disrupting Harm in Armenia) released last December revealed that five per cent of internet-using children aged 12 to 17 were subjected to tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in only a one-year period.

Seventy-one per cent of tech-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse happened exclusively via online channels, such as social media or online gaming platforms. The most common forms included unwanted exposure to sexual images.

Senior Armenian government officials, UNICEF representatives, experts, and civil society partners convened in Yerevan on March 2, 2026 for a high-level policy dialogue titled “From Evidence to Action: A Policy Dialogue on Child Online Safety in Armenia.”

The event brought together national stakeholders to discuss the latest research on online risks faced by children in Armenia and to identify priority policy actions to strengthen national child online safety systems.

In December 2025, Australia became the first nation to prohibit social media use by anyone under 16, barring access to TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

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