Social media bans alone won't protect children, Korea's youth agency chief says

As governments worldwide implement restrictions on children's use of social media and smartphones, the leader of Korea’s top youth affairs agency warns that blanket age-based bans are insufficient for safeguarding young people in the digital age. Kim Jin-sang, who recently took the helm of the Korea Youth Work Agency (KYWA), emphasizes the need for stronger safeguards and greater platform accountability.

However, he argues that the most crucial solution lies in empowering young individuals to manage risks and make responsible choices for themselves.

During an interview with The Korea Times, Kim stated unequivocally, "Restrictions alone cannot solve young people’s digital problems." Instead, he advocates for equipping them with the skills to critically evaluate information and risks, manage their digital usage, scrutinize algorithms and online content, and act responsibly. His comments come as the world grapples with the ongoing debate on how to best protect young children in the digital realm.

Earlier this year, Australia made history as the first nation to mandate social media platforms to prevent users under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.