Governments consider restrictions on youth social media and gaming

South Korean and British authorities are exploring new regulations to protect minors from online risks. In South Korea, the government is discussing measures to restrict social media access for children under 14. Proposed actions include mandatory age verification and limiting addictive features, such as personalized recommendations and infinite scrolling, for users under 19. The Korea Communications Commission aims to establish a response plan by the first half of next year, balancing youth protection with information access rights.

In the United Kingdom, the government is pursuing plans to restrict in-game voice chat for users under 16. This initiative, part of a broader social media safety policy aimed for implementation by spring 2027, seeks to prevent minors from communicating with strangers on platforms like Roblox. While officials aim to reduce online dangers, gaming advocacy groups have expressed concerns that overly broad regulations could disrupt positive social experiences and require burdensome age verification for all players.