Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to introduce a new "Teen Account" feature in South Korea starting January 2025. Designed to provide greater parental control and limit exposure to harmful content, these accounts will be rolled out globally.

The new feature, already available in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, will restrict the types of content teenagers can see and allow parents to set time limits. For instance, parents can use a "parental supervision tool" to restrict their child's phone usage between 10 PM and 7 AM.

Priyanka Balla, Meta's Asia Pacific Safety Policy Head, emphasized the importance of tailoring the platform to different age groups. "We've found that even within the teenage years, there are different developmental needs," she said. "For 14-15 year-olds, the account will be private, and parents will need to unlock certain features. However, 15-16 year-olds will have the option to unlock their accounts themselves."

While parents won't be able to see the exact content of their child's messages, they will be able to see who their child is communicating with. Balla explained that this approach balances the need for parental oversight with the importance of protecting a teenager's privacy.

The decision to launch Teen Accounts follows years of discussions with teenagers, parents, and experts. Meta concluded that a one-size-fits-all approach was insufficient and that parents needed more tools to monitor their children's online activities.

A Broader Conversation

The announcement of Teen Accounts coincided with a "Youth Safety Roundtable" in Seoul, where experts from government, academia, and the entertainment industry gathered to discuss online safety for young people.

Lee Hee-jung, a professor at Korea University Law School, stressed the need for more specific age-based regulations to protect young people online. "We need a multi-faceted approach that involves not only digital literacy but also parental involvement," she said.

Kim Joo-ryung, an actress known for her role in the Netflix series "Squid Game," shared her personal experience of co-using a smartphone with her child. "I make a point of checking what my child is watching and having open conversations about it," she said.

Lee Eun-gyu, the head of the Digital Inclusion Policy Team at the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized the importance of critical thinking education for young people and pledged to work with companies to promote voluntary regulations.

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