South Korea to Discuss Regulating Youth Social Media Use, YouTube Shorts May Be Included

South Korea is set to formally discuss regulations aimed at curbing the addictive nature of social media among adolescents. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced its policy direction in July, signaling that legislative discussions will intensify in the latter half of the year. The government intends to present a final revised bill by the end of 2024, though significant issues concerning the scope and methods of regulation need to be addressed.

The KCC's proposed measures place the onus on social media operators, not on teenagers or their parents, to prevent addiction. Key proposals include restricting access for users under 14 and obligating platforms to limit addictive features, such as infinite scrolling and recommendation algorithms, for those under 19. While a blanket ban is not envisioned, a "permission-based approach with parental consent" is being prioritized. However, the specific details may change as the government reconciles these plans with seven existing bills in the National Assembly.

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The KCC official explained, "Search portals like Naver and Daum, cafes, online communities, and messenger apps are not targets. The criteria will be functions that allow interaction with an unspecified number of people based on the user's account or channel, such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Facebook."

A primary point of contention is defining the scope of "social media" for regulatory purposes. One proposed bill defines it as "a service that communicates or shares information with others through information and communication networks," potentially encompassing email and messaging apps. Conversely, a narrower definition could exclude platforms like YouTube, which induce addiction through features like Shorts. A KCC official clarified that search portals, cafes, online communities, and messenger apps would not be targeted. Instead, the focus will be on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Facebook, which facilitate interaction with a broad audience based on user accounts or channels.

Social media companies may resist limitations on features that drive user engagement and, consequently, advertising revenue. The "infinite scroll," "auto-play," and "personalized recommendation algorithms" are cited as addictive elements. Furthermore, since many major social media platforms are operated by foreign companies, there is a potential for future trade disputes. The KCC official stated that the duty to protect minors applies equally to domestic and foreign companies operating within South Korea. They also noted that legislative efforts to protect youth are underway in the United States and the European Union, suggesting that South Korea's measures would not be seen as unfair treatment.

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The KCC official added, "The duty to protect minors applies equally to domestic and foreign companies if they provide services in Korea. As legislation to protect their own youth is also progressing in places like the United States and the European Union, there is little room to view it as unfair treatment."