President Lee Jae-myung instructed officials at a Blue House Cabinet meeting on November 3 to swiftly review regulations restricting teenagers’ social media use and to strengthen public awareness campaigns against fake information. Presiding over the session, President Lee asked Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of the Korea Media and Communications Commission, about the progress of deliberations, urging thorough and prompt action, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
The administration’s push to regulate youth online activity comes amid a broader national debate on unchecked digital consumption. According to HeraldCorp, the government is considering a membership ban for individuals under 14 and restrictions on features — such as personalized content recommendations — that can foster excessive engagement, including infinite scroll.
President Lee cites international momentum and public support for restrictions
During the November 3 meeting, President Lee pointed to international momentum on the issue, noting that similar restrictions are being debated in Europe, Australia, and Canada. He specifically referenced France, where legislation was enacted before being ruled unconstitutional, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
Citing recent public opinion polls, the president stated that nearly 80 percent of citizens believe teenager social media use requires restriction because the harmful effects appear to be far greater than realized. Nine related bills are currently pending in the National Assembly, according to Asia Business Daily.
Lessons from the Gaming Shutdown System
Korea Media and Communications Commission Chairman Kim Jong-cheol urged caution during the discussions, drawing a parallel to the country’s former gaming shutdown system. That policy barred children under 16 from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. before being abolished in 2022 following criticism that it was ineffective and did little to curb excessive gaming.
Kim emphasized that any new framework must rely on a broad social consensus rather than hasty implementation. He reported that the commission is conducting public consultations and aims to finalize a youth social media restriction policy by the first half of next year.
The Broadening Threat of Misinformation
Beyond youth access, President Lee targeted the spread of unverified claims, warning that fake news has evolved past neighborhood gossip to undermine the fundamental order of the state. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young added at the meeting that he fell victim to false online rumors claiming he had a daughter in North Korea, noting that filing a criminal complaint could not repair the damage to his reputation.
President Lee also criticized news outlets, stating that journalists think they are exempt from responsibility as long as they state that someone else made the claims.
Government reviews social media bans and parental consent for minors
What specific age restrictions are under consideration for minors?
The government is reviewing amendments that would ban social media sign-ups for those under 14, while discussions have included allowing children under 14 to register with parental consent, as reported by HeraldCorp.
When does the Korea Communications Commission plan to finalize its response plan?
Chairman Kim Jong-cheol stated that the agency is working to complete the process following public discussions and aims to finalize the policy framework by the first half of next year.
What features besides age limits might be restricted on youth accounts?
Under review is a default ban on features that drive excessive use, including personalized recommendation algorithms and infinite scroll for accounts held by users under 19, according to HeraldCorp.
How many legislative bills are currently pending in the National Assembly?
Nine bills concerning the restriction of minors’ social media use are currently pending before lawmakers, as noted by Asia Business Daily.
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