Meta in talks with Seoul on social media restrictions for children

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is reportedly engaged in discussions with the Korean government regarding measures to restrict children's use of social media platforms. During a "Screen Smart" roundtable in Seoul, Philip Chua, Meta's Asia-Pacific general manager for product public policy, revealed that the company has been deliberating on appropriate measures to safeguard teenagers from online hazards.

Chua proposed limiting children's use of Facebook and Instagram to a maximum of two hours daily. Additionally, he suggested restricting their access to these platforms during late-night hours. However, both YouTube and TikTok have decided not to join the global initiative to implement stricter online safety protocols for children. According to Chua, Meta is considering reducing the daily usage limit from two hours to just one hour per application.

While Chua did not advocate for blanket restrictions on social media usage, he emphasized that any imposed limitations should still allow parents the discretion to intervene when necessary. An increasing number of nations, such as Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia, are also considering similar measures to protect their younger citizens from potential online risks.