President Lee Jae-myung directed officials on November 3 to discuss measures for restricting youth access to social media platforms in a detailed and prompt manner. The Broadcast Media Commission plans to finalize discussions by mid-next year after a public consultation process.
During the 47th Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House, President Lee asked Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of the Broadcast Media Commission, about the progress of the discussions, stating, "I believe we have talked about this before." He urged for a thorough and swift approach to the discussions.
Chairman Kim noted, "We have a task to carefully construct a response based on social consensus, given our past experience with the failed game shutdown policy. We are currently working towards concluding discussions by mid-next year after a public consultation process."
In response, President Lee remarked, "It seems that the negative impacts are greater than we initially thought."
The Broadcast Media Commission proposed restrictions on youth social media use during a presidential briefing in July. The plan includes limiting access for those under 14 years old and restricting exposure to addictive designs and recommendation algorithms for users aged 14 to 19.
However, Chairman Kim has emphasized the need for a public consultation process involving youth, parents, and experts, rather than implementing blanket restrictions. Related bills concerning age limits, parental consent, and algorithm restrictions are currently pending in the National Assembly.
President Lee also stressed the importance of addressing the spread of fake news. He stated, "The issue of fake news has transcended the level of mere gossip and has become a problem that undermines the fundamental order of the state. It has now become an issue that shakes the very foundations of society."
Regarding media practices, he criticized the so-called "quote journalism," saying, "Do they think that quoting someone absolves them of responsibility? They seem to believe that reporting what someone said grants them immunity."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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