From October 1, to post pictures of children, you must have parental consent.

From October 1, Circular 09/2017 issued by the Minister of Information and Communications, regulating the content ratio, time, duration for children and warnings about content not suitable for children in the press officially took effect.

From October 1, newspapers and media wishing to publish pictures of children must have the consent of their parents. Photo: Hai Nguyen

It stipulates that the press must have the consent of the child's parents before publishing pictures of children. This is a drastic move to protect and ensure the inviolable right to privacy, personal secrets, family secrets and for the best interests of children.

Newspapers must prioritize content for children.

Stories of children being abused mentally, physically, and physically are still a burning issue that the whole society is concerned about. Recently, with the development of the Internet, children's image and privacy are also violated. In order to protect the best interests of children, Circular 09/2017 has many notable contents related to this issue.

Accordingly, when reporting on negative incidents or violations of the law in which children are victims or involved, the press must blur or cover the children's faces and ensure the confidentiality of information about the children's private lives and personal secrets.

When using children, children's images as characters, illustrations in programs reflecting negative incidents, violations of the law: For children under 7 years old, there must be consent from the parents, guardians according to current regulations. For children 7 years old and older, there must be consent from the children and their parents, guardians according to current regulations.

Circular 09 also clearly states that depending on the purpose and type of press, the press must have appropriate broadcasting time and publish news related to children according to regulations.

Specifically, the broadcasting rate of information programs for children and propaganda programs about children must reach 2%-5% of the total broadcasting time of the program channel in a week.

For printed and electronic newspapers, every week at least 5% of the news and articles must have content for children, and must promote children in accordance with the principles and purposes.

Notably, information content for children and propaganda about children must be prioritized and posted in appropriate and easily recognizable locations for children.

The Circular stipulates that priority content for production, posting, broadcasting, and publishing for children includes: Implementation of laws and policies on children's rights; learning, studying, exchanging knowledge, playing, and entertaining for children; sex education, health, and nutrition. Especially content on preventing and detecting factors and behaviors that cause harm, abuse, violence, and exploitation of children and guiding children in life skills, self-protection skills, and child safety skills...

Inappropriate content must have a warning!

Also according to the provisions of Circular 09/2017, press agencies and publishers must warn about content that is not suitable for children. The warning content must be short, clear, easy to understand, easy to remember and easy to recognize.

Evaluating the contents of Circular 09, Mr. Nguyen Trong An - former Deputy Director of the Department of Children (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) - said that the birth of Circular 09 is extremely necessary, in order to better protect children's privacy.

“In the world, people have had warning labels for a long time. But we have been confused for many years. Movies with violence, hot scenes, and TV shows with models fighting and cursing each other are broadcast widely during prime time without any warning. These images are unintentionally stuffed into children's heads, affecting their thinking. It is time for the media to warn about content that is not suitable for children, so that parents can know how to guide their children,” Mr. Nguyen Trong An shared.

However, how to warn now? What the warning symbol is, what the size and color are are still controversial, while from October 1, Circular 09 will take effect.

“I think press and media agencies should sit down together, or the management agency should have more specific regulations on warning symbols for content not suitable for children, so that all newspapers can use them consistently. It will also be easier for us parents to identify warnings, to better orient information for our children,” said Nguyen Van Thang (Thanh Tri, Hanoi).

According to Laodong