South Korea considers banning social media for children under 14

The authorities of the Republic of Korea are considering the possibility of banning children under 14 from using social media.

This was announced by Kim Jong-chul, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.

"We are considering a plan to restrict children under 14 from creating social media accounts, as well as to limit the impact of algorithms that encourage excessive use of such platforms by teenagers aged 14 to 19," the Yonhap agency quoted him as saying.

According to Kim, approximately seven bills have been proposed in parliament that concern the use of social media by minors.

At the same time, the official added that the issue should be approached cautiously, citing the experience with the ban on online games for teenagers during nighttime hours.

It should be recalled that in 2011, the Republic of Korea adopted a law that prohibited individuals under 16 from accessing online games from midnight to 6 a.m. In January 2022, this law was repealed, as it had a negative impact on the gaming industry and "violated the basic rights" of people.