South Korea considers social media ban for children under 14

South Korean authorities are considering banning children under the age of 14 from using social media platforms, Kim Jong Cheol, president of Korea Media and Communications Commission, said.

“We are discussing a plan to restrict children under 14 from creating accounts on social media platforms, as well as to limit the impact of algorithms that encourage excessive use of such platforms among teenagers aged 14 to 19,” Yonhap quoted Kim as saying.

Kim Jong Cheol noted that lawmakers have proposed around seven bills concerning minors’ use of social media.

However, the official said the issue should be handled carefully, citing South Korea’s previous experience with a nighttime online gaming ban for teenagers. In 2011, the country introduced a law prohibiting people under 16 from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. The law was repealed in January 2022 after it was found to have negatively affected the gaming industry and violated people’s basic rights.