Japan plans to legislate restrictions on social media use for teenagers, as the global wave of regulation continues to spread.

A study group under Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is considering a requirement for social media platforms to enable age-filtering mechanisms by default, with potential legislative amendments or new guidelines as early as the end of this year, joining countries like Australia, the UK, and Indonesia in tightening regulations. (Context: Rumors of a potential merger between Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X! A strategic analysis of pros and cons) (Background: What is the "New Media" mentioned by a16z? The ongoing power shift in new media) According to reports, the Ministry's study group released relevant documents this week, discussing the requirement for platforms to enable age-based content filtering by default. The Japanese government is considering implementing age-based controls on social media platforms, joining a global trend of tightening digital regulations to protect minors. Bloomberg noted that the group is expected to release a report this summer, which could lead to legislative amendments or new guidelines by the end of the year. Currently, Japanese regulations already require mobile carriers and internet service providers to offer filtering services for minors, but if parents opt out, providers are not required to enforce them; this loophole is a key focus of the current discussions. According to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japanese teenagers spend an average of nearly 70 minutes per day on social media on weekdays. LINE and YouTube are the most popular platforms, while Instagram has seen particularly rapid growth in recent years, with its penetration rate among teenagers reaching 75% in 2024, a significant jump from 25% a decade ago. The psychological community continues to warn about the link between social media and the mental health of minors. Bloomberg reported that data from Japan's Ministry of Education shows that in 2024, there were over 27,000 reported cases of defamation, bullying, or unpleasant experiences occurring via computers or mobile devices, a figure that has been rising in recent years. Some psychologists have linked social media use to cyberbullying, distorted body image, eating disorders, and suicide risk. Bloomberg pointed out that the study group has not yet established a specific age threshold. Experts in attendance cautioned that different platforms face different risk structures, and a uniform age limit may not be the most appropriate solution. Regarding technical implementation, participants suggested leveraging user data from telecommunications carriers to verify age, while simultaneously expressing concerns about privacy risks. Other experts questioned the effectiveness of the filtering mechanism if users can bypass verification by entering false ages. The study group's proposal also includes establishing a platform rating system, which would evaluate platforms based on protective measures such as content filtering, usage time limits, and advertising restrictions, making it easier for users to compare the risk levels of different platforms. After Australia forcibly closed 4.7 million accounts belonging to minors last December, the results were mixed: some parents reported improvements in their children's behavior, while others noted that children switched to different applications or bypassed the restrictions. Even if they cannot post comments or send messages, minors can still browse content as long as the platform does not mandate a login. Nevertheless, the global wave of regulation continues to spread. Countries such as the UK, Greece, and Indonesia have already introduced similar measures. In March of this year, a California court ruled that Meta and Alphabet must pay $6 million in damages, determining that their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive, a decision seen as an important precedent for pushing stricter regulation. Bloomberg believes that Japan's move marks a turning point for social media regulation from "advisory" to "mandatory," but the details of the final plan—including age thresholds, verification mechanisms, and penalty designs—remain to be finalized in this summer's report. 📍Related Reports📍 Rumors of a potential merger between Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X! A strategic analysis of pros and cons What is the "New Media" mentioned by a16z? The ongoing power shift in new media Trump's Truth Social to integrate AI! TMTG has filed for AI and AI Search trademarks: SNS moving toward a super digital app