South Korea Moves to Limit Social Media Access for Under-14s to Combat Addiction

South Korea is set to introduce legislative measures to curb social media addiction among young people. The government's plan includes restricting access to social networking services (SNS) for users under the age of 14 and implementing age-specific regulations.

A core component of the new policy involves obligating platform companies to incorporate safety designs that prevent youth addiction from the initial stages of app development. This initiative was announced during a presidential working report at the Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbin Gwan on the morning of the 16th by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).

The KCC's plan is part of a broader vision to realize a 'Media Basic Society,' which guarantees everyone's right to participate in and access media freely, while ensuring a safe and trustworthy media environment. The proposed regulations, which have been refined through consultations and analysis of international trends, are expected to be submitted to the National Assembly soon for legislative review.

Specific measures under consideration include preventing the 'auto-play' function on social media platforms and strengthening parental controls. The government aims to ensure that all citizens can enjoy their media rights in a safe and reliable manner, addressing concerns about the potential negative impacts of excessive social media use on adolescent development.