SEOUL: The nominee to head South Korea’s broadcast and media commission said on Tuesday that introducing restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media would be a priority, stressing the need to safeguard young people from its potential harms.
Addressing lawmakers during his confirmation hearing, Kim Jong-cheol said the commission’s responsibility is to ensure that the public can communicate in a safe, free, and well-regulated environment.
Responding to questions about adopting age-based social media limits similar to those enforced in Australia, he said such measures should be considered.
“Protecting young people in this area is a crucial objective, and I intend to carry out my duties with this goal in mind,” Kim told parliament.
Earlier this month, Australia became the first country to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 16. Several other countries are now weighing similar steps as concerns grow over the impact of social media on the health and safety of young users.
