7 in 10 Koreans support social media restriction for teens

A recent poll conducted by the Korea Press Foundation revealed that seven in ten South Koreans support implementing a policy to limit social media use among teenagers. The survey, which polled 1,000 individuals aged 14 to 58, found that 70.7 percent of respondents favored such a policy, while 29.3 percent opposed it. However, among the teenage respondents, who made up one-fifth of the total participants, the majority, 59 percent, opposed the proposed restriction, with only 41 percent in favor.

When asked to determine the appropriate age for implementing such a restriction, respondents offered a range of suggestions. Specifically, 16.8 percent of all respondents indicated that the age should be 15, followed closely by 14.9 percent who suggested 18, and 13.1 percent who advocated for 11 and younger. Despite these differing opinions on the ideal age, a majority of respondents acknowledged that even if the policy were introduced, there would be limitations in effectively restricting social media use by teenagers.

Many respondents cited the possibility of teens using other people's accounts or transitioning to new, unrestricted platforms as significant challenges to enforcing the restriction. Consequently, 59.8 percent of respondents believed that the responsibility should lie with the social media platforms to implement and enforce such restrictions.