Why Seoul isn't banning teenagers from social media

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Kaley, an American in her 20s, first encountered YouTube at age 6 and began using Instagram when she was 9. She used social media every day, at times spending up to 16 hours just on Instagram.

As she entered adolescence, she struggled to maintain hobbies or friendships, ultimately developing severe depression and an obsession with her appearance. Last year, she filed a lawsuit against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap, which operates Snapchat, blaming the tech giants for her addiction.

On Feb. 25, a California jury returned a landmark verdict ordering Meta and Google to pay Kaley $5.98 million in damages. Snap and TikTok settled out of court.

It marked the first time a U.S. court recognized that platform companies could be held financially liable for harming the mental health of minors through features actively designed to increase screen time, such as infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations and push notifications.

Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, Kaley, leaves the court after the jury found Meta and Google liable in a key test case accusing the companies of harming children's mental health through addictive social media platforms, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 25. Reuters-Yonhap

In the U.S., the verdict was hailed as a monumental decision paving the way for additional lawsuits. The ruling validates a rapidly escalating global movement to keep teenagers from social media. From Australia to Indonesia, governments are treating the issue not as a private family matter, but as a crisis requiring state intervention.

In Korea, one of the world's most connected nations, the political establishment remains haunted by the failure of a 2011 "shutdown law" that attempted to ban teenagers from playing games during certain hours. Instead, Korean lawmakers are retreating from blanket bans, opting instead for soft, graduated restrictions.

Australia leads global crackdown

The international crackdown is moving swiftly, with Australia serving as a global testing ground. Last December, the country enacted a sweeping social media ban for children under 16. The legislation is intentionally restrictive, offering no exceptions for children who already have accounts or parental consent.

The act targets high-risk platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Snapchat and threatens tech companies with fines of up to $33.2 million dollars if they fail to systematically block underage users or prevent VPN workarounds.

A teenager holds a mobile phone displaying a message from TikTok as law banning social media for users under 16 in Australia takes effect, in Sydney, Australia, December 10, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap

The initial effect of the legislation has been staggering. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reported that 4.7 million underage accounts have been removed since the mandate took effect. However, the crackdown is currently facing its first major stress test as the government recently announced active investigations into five major platforms for failing to fully comply with age verification protocols.

Despite these enforcement hurdles, the uncompromising stance has provided a legislative blueprint for the rest of the world. The policy was spearheaded by an organized grassroots campaign by parents and initiated by the wife of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. The movement rapidly achieved overwhelming public consensus, securing 77 percent approval in late 2024 polls.

Global momentum for teen social media bans

Indonesia followed a similar blueprint on Feb. 28, becoming the first Asian nation and the second globally to implement a ban on social media for users under the age of 16. The policy targets eight platforms, including Meta, YouTube, TikTok, X and Roblox, with penalties ranging from warnings to fines and temporary service suspension.

Similar legislation is sweeping the West. France's lower house passed a ban on users under the age of 15 in January; if passed by the Senate, it takes effect Sept. 1. Austria plans to enact an under-14 ban by late June. The U.K. is testing a six-week restriction on 300 teenagers, and California is pushing to block account creation for people under the age of 16 entirely. Spain, Denmark, Norway, Czechia, Germany, China and Japan are evaluating similar legal measures.

Past policy trauma stalls Korean social media regulation

Seoul faces a similar crisis, but its legislative response remains stalled. According to a 2024 Ministry of Science and ICT survey, 67.6 percent of Korean teenagers use social media and 40.1 percent of those aged 10 to 19 are at risk of problematic smartphone use. Despite numerous regulatory bills pending in the National Assembly, discussions have languished.

The hesitation stems from political backlash over youth digital rights. In 2011, Korea implemented a gaming curfew law, blocking minors from accessing online games late at night. The deeply unpopular policy was abolished a decade later after intense criticism that it was ineffective and an infringement on minors' rights.

That history casts a long shadow over current policymakers. When Kim Jong-chol, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), voiced strong support for a teenage social media ban during his confirmation hearing last December, he faced fierce political backlash. Kim quickly retreated, saying he would instead focus on legal guardian consent.

Lawmakers vote on an amendment to the Youth Protection Act during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Nov. 11, 2021. The revision abolished the mandatory gaming curfew that restricted minors from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. for the past decade. Korea Times file

Korea is avoiding the global trend of blanket bans in favor of graduated restrictions. A recent bill proposed by Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea avoids account bans, focusing instead on mandating age verification and prohibiting algorithms from exposing minors to harmful content. Last month, the KCC reiterated that any approach must be phased by age, saying that unilateral bans do not work.

"Voluntary consent and broad public support must precede regulation to avoid side effects," said Choi Jin-bong, a professor at Sungkonghoe University.

"The government must thoroughly explain to teenagers why these regulations are necessary and how to prepare for them, ensuring they can fully understand and accept the changes," Choi added.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.