As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
A sociology professor warns a blanket ban could push children toward less visible online spaces or encourage them to lie about their age, making exploitation harder to detect.
Across the globe, governments are adopting measures to safeguard children from the potential harms of social media. In France, lawmakers have enacted a ban on children under 15 using social media platforms. The United Kingdom has taken a similar stance, aiming to restrict access for users under 16. Australia has already implemented restrictions, barring children under 16 from using major social media sites. Indonesia and Malaysia have also joined the trend, enacting similar age-based limitations.
Japan, however, has taken a different approach. Instead of implementing a blanket ban on social media for children, the country is focusing on stricter age verification processes, safer platform settings, and increased responsibility for technology companies. This nuanced strategy reflects Japan's cautious approach to regulating the digital landscape for younger users.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
