South Korea Reviews Plan to Bar Children Under 14 from Social Media Accounts

South Korea's media regulator is reviewing plans to bar children under 14 from creating social media accounts and to limit designs and algorithms that encourage heavy use among those aged 14 to 19. Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of the Korea Media and Communications Commission, described the measures at a policy briefing in Cheong Wa Dae on July 16.

"We are reviewing, in phases, a plan to restrict children under 14 years of age from creating accounts on social media platforms, and limiting exposure to designs and algorithms that could encourage excessive use of such platforms for teens aged 14 to 19," he said.

Kim added that roughly seven related bills are under consideration in the National Assembly. He noted the need for caution, citing the 2011 Shutdown Law that blocked minors under 16 from online games between midnight and 6 a.m. That measure was repealed in January 2022 after criticism that it infringed basic rights and harmed the game industry.

The review occurs as other governments advance similar rules. The European Union plans to introduce legislation restricting children's access to social media platforms after the summer. Australia has already enacted a ban on social media accounts for those under 16.