While Other Countries Crack Down, Korea Still Wavers... Childhood Fades Away While Scrolling [Youth Immersed in SNS] ⑤

Bill Proposed to Limit Daily SNS Usage
Youth Rights Groups Push Back: "One-Dimensional Prejudice Prioritized"
Australia Accelerates Regulation After Death of 12-Year-Old Girl

Editor's NoteIn today's world, 9 out of 10 high school students use social networking services (SNS). However, society's response to adolescent SNS use remains insufficient. While parents worry that SNS may lead to school violence and crime, young people say that, in their busy daily lives, relationships with peers cannot exist without SNS. The Asia Business Daily examines this gap and explores solutions that our society must consider.

Excessive use of social networking services (SNS) among adolescents has become a problem, but in Korea, the debate between protecting and controlling youth has stalled progress toward a solution. In contrast, countries such as Australia are actively introducing practical alternatives to protect young people, with Australia becoming the first country in the world to completely ban SNS sign-ups for those under 16.

Jo Jung-hoon, the ruling party secretary of the National Assembly's Education Committee, is submitting a request for the formation of an agenda coordination committee regarding the partial amendment bill of the Local Education Finance Grant Act to Chairman Kim Young-ho at the plenary meeting of the Education Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

According to the education sector and related sources on January 20, the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, proposed by Assemblyman Jo Jung-hoon of the People Power Party, passed the National Assembly plenary session in August last year. As a result, from the new semester in March this year, the use of smartphones during class will be completely banned in elementary, middle, and high schools. The purpose of the amendment is to prevent smartphone addiction among adolescents and protect students' mental health. However, students with disabilities, those requiring special education, or those in educational or emergency situations may use smart devices during class.

Initially, Assemblyman Jo argued that SNS should be classified as one of the "four major addictions" alongside alcohol, gambling, and drugs in 2024, and that adolescent SNS use should be restricted. To regulate and educate on this issue, he sponsored amendments to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Information and Communications Network Act) and the Framework Act on Education, along with the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The amendment to the Framework Act on Education, which also passed the National Assembly plenary session in August last year, requires school principals to strive to provide education within the curriculum on the proper use of smart devices.

Defining SNS as One of the Four Major Addictions Alongside Alcohol, Gambling, and Drugs... Youth Rights Groups Push Back

The main issue lies with the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act. This bill requires parental or guardian verification for setting daily usage limits on SNS and for allowing algorithms that could induce addiction for users under 16. If an SNS platform provides services to users under 16 without such verification, it faces a fine of up to 10 million won. Assemblyman Jo cited the increasing number of adolescents becoming addicted after being exposed to recommendation algorithms for SNS and short-form content as the reason for proposing the amendment.

Youth rights groups protested after the amendment was proposed. Fourteen youth rights organizations, including the Youth Human Rights Group Naeda, issued a statement in August last year, saying, "This bill prioritizes one-dimensional prejudice over scientific verification," and argued, "The discriminatory idea of controlling young people is essentially no different from the gaming shutdown policy-this is an 'SNS shutdown policy.'" Global SNS platforms such as Meta and TikTok have also criticized Australia's SNS ban as "hasty legislation," which is another factor to consider. The bill is currently pending before the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee.

Currently, the government has not proposed any specific direction regarding youth SNS use. Kim Jongcheol, Chairman of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee, responded positively to Australia's youth SNS regulations during a National Assembly confirmation hearing on December 16, stating, "Issues such as excessive SNS immersion and overdependence on mobile phones among youth, and the deepening of confirmation bias, are occurring globally." However, after controversy arose, he told reporters on his way to work on December 19, "Adolescents are both subjects of protection and holders of fundamental rights," adding, "We will comprehensively examine both the positive and negative aspects to protect rights and provide safeguards against harm."

EU: "SNS Should Be Regulated Like Smoking and Drinking"... France, Denmark, and Malaysia Push for Regulations

Emmanuel Macron, President of France Yonhap News Agency

Other countries are racing to establish regulations on adolescent SNS use. Australia is a representative example. On January 10 (local time), Australia became the first country in the world to implement a law banning SNS use for those under 16. Even with parental consent, adolescents under 16 cannot sign up for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter). SNS platforms that fail to take adequate measures to prevent account ownership by those under 16 face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 48.75 billion won). Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ahead of the introduction of the SNS ban in November 2024, stated, "SNS is harming our children."

The driving force behind Australia's SNS ban was the case of 12-year-old student Charlotte O'Brien. In September 2024, she left a note describing her struggles after being bullied at school and took her own life. She continued to suffer harassment via SNS, experiencing pain both at home and at school. Charlotte's father testified that the SNS messages his daughter received were "too cruel to repeat." This led to a national consensus on the need to restrict adolescent SNS use and ultimately to the proposal of the SNS ban.

European Union (EU) member states are also moving to address the issue of adolescent SNS use. In her annual policy address in September last year, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said, "Our society teaches children not to smoke or drink alcohol before a certain age," and added, "Now it is time to take the same approach with SNS," fueling public debate.

France is considering a bill to prevent SNS platforms from providing services to those under 15, starting September 1 this year. After a series of violent crimes involving youth in France, President Emmanuel Macron has identified SNS as a cause. The French government stated, "There are numerous studies proving the various risks associated with excessive digital screen use by young people," and added, "The goal (of the bill) is to protect future generations from these dangers."

Denmark is also moving forward with a bill to ban SNS use for those under 15. In her opening address to parliament on October 7 last year, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, "Mobile phones and SNS are robbing our children of their childhood," and described SNS use as a "monster unleashed." Malaysia is also reviewing restrictions on adolescent SNS use positively and has decided to seek advice from the Australian government.