Japan to tighten social media usage for teenagers

Tokyo (ANTARA) - Japan’s Ministry of Communications plans to require social media platforms to implement stricter age verification for users to tackle issues of addiction and bullying among teenagers. However, during discussions on the policy draft on Wednesday, the ministry stated it will not adopt age restrictions like those in other countries, as social media serves as an important communication tool in Japan. The policy proposal is included in a draft presented at an expert forum. Japan’s Children and Families Agency will determine specific measures and the need for legal revisions once the final draft is completed by the end of summer. The draft mandates that social media platforms assess and explain risks associated with their services, as well as steps taken to protect young users. In 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to impose a social media ban for children under 16 to safeguard young users from addiction, bullying, and potential risks to their mental and physical health. Indonesia also began enforcing a ban on social media use for children under 16 this March. Source: Kyodo