South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered officials during a cabinet meeting on November 3, 2026, to move swiftly and thoroughly in discussing restrictions on social media use for minors.
President Lee Orders Rapid Action on Minor SNS Restrictions
President Lee questioned Broadcasting Media and Communications Commission Chairman Kim Jong-chul during the session at the Blue House about the current progress on youth social media limits. Lee noted that low-age social media restrictions are actively debated in Europe, Australia, and Canada, pointing out that while several regions have moved toward legislation, France’s constitutional council struck down a minor-access ban last August as an inappropriate infringement.
Australia enacted a ban preventing children under 16 from holding major social media accounts in December 2025. Greece, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Spain are also weighing similar frameworks to curb digital addiction among adolescents.
Commission Plans Public Consensus by Next Year’s First Half
Chairman Kim Jong-chul responded that rushing restrictions risks repeating the pitfalls of past regulatory missteps. Kim stated that the agency learned from the premature introduction and subsequent failure of the gaming shutdown system, emphasizing that any protective framework requires a delicate foundation of social consensus. The commission intends to finalize its comprehensive response strategy during the first half of next year following a formal public deliberation process.
President Lee noted that polls show nearly 80 percent of the public supports restricting youth social media access, suggesting the societal toll of unchecked digital consumption has exceeded initial estimates.
Phased Restrictions Proposed for Minors and Teens
The Broadcasting Media and Communications Commission outlined a tiered regulatory roadmap during its presidential policy briefing last July. The framework prohibits social media registration for children under 14, while users aged 14 through 19 would face restrictions on addictive interface designs and algorithmic recommendation feeds.
Chairman Kim maintained that rather than imposing an outright blanket ban immediately, the administration must proceed through structured public consultations involving teenagers, parents, and industry specialists.
