The Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared admissible on Monday, September 28, a bill aimed at strengthening regulations governing minors’ access to social media.
Introduced by Senator Yvan Kazadi Kankonde, the bill notably proposes banning children under the age of 13 from creating an account or using interactive social features on digital platforms.
The proposal seeks to amend and supplement Ordinance-Law No. 23/010 of March 13, 2023, establishing the Digital Code. It notably aims to bring rules on child protection and personal data closer to those applying to digital service providers.
Three Regimes According to Age
The proposed system provides for differentiated access to social media according to age.
For children under 13, creating an account and using interactive social features would be prohibited.
Between the ages of 13 and under 15, access would remain possible through a supervised account, with verifiable parental consent.
From the age of 15, minors could access platforms independently. However, these platforms would be subject to stricter requirements regarding safety, privacy protection, advertising, age-appropriate design and age verification.
Age Verification at the Heart of the System
The issue of age is one of the main challenges of the reform. To be implemented, the new rules would require mechanisms enabling platforms to verify the actual age of their users.
The bill also addresses platform practices that could expose young people to various risks: the collection and processing of personal data, automated recommendation systems, repeated solicitations and access to inappropriate content.
According to its initiator, the objective is notably to better protect minors against harassment, blackmail, exploitation and exposure to harmful content.
An Initiative in Line with Government Guidelines
This proposal comes a few months after guidelines announced by the Congolese government.
In February 2026, the President of the Republic asked the relevant ministries to develop measures aimed at promoting responsible use of social media, including, where necessary, proportionate restrictions.
The authorities also emphasized strengthening digital education and raising awareness of the risks associated with social media and artificial intelligence.
A Bill Still Far From Being Adopted
The Senate’s declaration of admissibility does not mean that the new rules are already in force.
Following the general debate, the proposal was referred to the joint PAJ-Infrastructure and Territorial Planning Committee for an in-depth review. The content of the bill may therefore still be amended during the parliamentary process before any subsequent stages of adoption and promulgation.
The DRC is thus opening a debate that now extends beyond its borders: the age at which minors should be allowed to access social media and the measures that should be put in place to protect children in the digital environment.