U.S. tech company Meta has indicated the possibility of implementing youth usage time restrictions for Instagram and Facebook in Japan, as reported by the Yomiuri Shimbun on October 22.
Antigone Davis, Meta's global head of safety, held a press conference in Tokyo the previous day, stating that the issue of limiting social media usage time for youth is something to be reviewed with the Japanese government.
In August, Meta agreed to pay approximately $16.7 billion (about 22.1 trillion won) to resolve lawsuits filed by U.S. state governments alleging that the company encouraged social media addiction among youth. Specifically, users under 18 will be limited to a combined total of two hours per day on Facebook and Instagram, with access blocked from midnight to 6 a.m.
Davis also mentioned that Meta is implementing a system in some U.S. states requiring parental consent for children to download apps, expressing a desire to consider a similar approach in Japan.
Regarding the highly addictive 'infinite scroll' feature, which continuously displays posts and videos, she stated, "The industry as a whole cannot ensure children's safety without regulation."
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that during her visit to Japan, Davis likely met with government and ruling party officials to discuss regulations on social media usage among children and adolescents.
As global movements to limit social media usage among children and adolescents gain momentum, the Japanese government has established a working group within the Children's Family Agency to facilitate related discussions. This group released an interim report in July suggesting that service providers assess the risks associated with children's social media usage.
According to a comprehensive survey of 100,000 youths conducted by the Japanese Children's Family Agency in August, more than half of respondents across all age groups agreed that there should be restrictions on social media usage for children below a certain age, indicating significant public support for regulation.
Additionally, Meta has stated its intention to discuss this issue with the South Korean government. Philip Chua, Meta's head of policy for the Asia-Pacific region, visited Seoul in September and expressed a willingness to discuss appropriate solutions with the South Korean government in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.