Will Korea join global push to restrict teen use of social media?
Korea is cautiously entering the global debate over whether to ban social media platforms for children and teenagers, as countries like Australia and Spain move toward sweeping restrictions on underage users. Around the world, governments are tightening rules for minors online, citing rising concerns over addiction, mental health, cyberbullying and exposure to sexual and violent content. In December, Australia became the first country to bar under-16s from mainstream social media, spurring at least 15 European governments, including France and Spain, to move toward similar restrictions. Asian countries such as India and Malaysia and U.S. states like Florida and Texas are pursuing their own age limits or bans. In contrast, Korea is moving more cautiously. An official at the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) told local media that there is “no concrete government road map yet” on youth social media regulation, noting that the commission is “closely watching legislative moves overseas, but this is an area that requires broad social consensus.” In the meantime, a bill to
Feb 10, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
