Amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act,
Including Parental Consent and Algorithm Restrictions,
Remain Pending in the National Assembly
Debate Stalled over Age Criteria and Fundamental Rights
Australia Bans SNS Use for Under-16s,
Imposes Heavy Fines for Non-Compliance
Debate over regulating social network service (SNS) use among teenagers is reigniting, prompted by remarks made during the confirmation hearing for Kim Jongcheol, nominee for Chairperson of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee. As Australia became the first country in the world to legally ban SNS use for those under 16, there is growing consensus in Korea that similar regulations may be needed to protect youth. However, there is also considerable opposition to a blanket restriction on SNS use, leading to calls for a more cautious approach. Although related bills have been introduced in the National Assembly, they have remained stagnant for an extended period, with little progress being made.
During the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee on December 16, Kim responded to the mention of Australia’s legal restriction on SNS use for children and teenagers under 16 by saying, “It is certainly an issue that should be reviewed.” However, as controversy grew, he later clarified in a statement that his remarks were not based on a premise of prohibition, but rather indicated a willingness to consider various alternatives to protect youth.
The current policy direction of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee, which oversees this issue, is focused more on phased protection rather than outright prohibition. Practical alternatives being discussed include strengthening parental consent and oversight, and expanding the responsibility of platforms to protect teenagers-so-called “managed regulation.” However, there is a sense that social consensus has not yet been fully achieved. An official from the committee stated, “While we agree on the seriousness of the SNS issue among youth, whether a blanket restriction on use is appropriate for Korea’s circumstances is a matter that requires careful consideration.”
This cautious stance is also evident in the legislative process. Last year, lawmakers Kim Jangkyum and Cho Junghoon (People Power Party), and Yoon Kunyoung (Democratic Party of Korea) introduced amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, which are still pending. These bills focus not on a complete ban, but on limiting algorithm-based content recommendations and strengthening parental consent requirements. However, after initial discussion in the committee, there has been no further progress.
Typically, when a bill is introduced, the relevant government ministry submits a review opinion to the National Assembly. The Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee already submitted its first review last year on bills related to protecting youth SNS use, but with no substantive discussion in the standing committee, these bills have effectively become “ghost bills.” This is due to the complex interplay of technical and institutional challenges, such as age verification methods, parental authentication procedures, platform terms of service revisions, and personal data protection issues, making it difficult to establish a comprehensive roadmap. A committee official explained, “SNS can be beneficial for academic or social activities, so a comprehensive approach is necessary.”
In contrast, Australia revised its Online Safety Act last year to ban, in principle, SNS account ownership for those under 16, imposing hefty fines on platforms that fail to enforce this restriction. The existence of a dedicated regulatory body for online safety is cited as a key factor behind the implementation of the law. The National Assembly Research Service noted, “Even in Australia, there was criticism during the legislative process regarding the validity of the legislative purpose, infringement of fundamental rights, and ambiguity in legal definitions,” and added, “If the need for such legislation is recognized in Korea, these factors should be carefully considered.” The analysis also pointed out the need for multifaceted review of issues such as the arbitrariness of age standards, privacy concerns in the age verification process, and the potential infringement of fundamental rights in the bills currently before the National Assembly.
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