Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Japan panel sets internet guidance for children by age
A Japanese government panel proposed internet guidance for children on Nov.
10 to help protect them from social media risks.
The guidance divides ages 0 to 18 into six stages of development.
For children up to age 5, it stresses time with people close to them and direct experiences, with adults helping shape online use.
For ages 13 to 15, parents are encouraged to move from direct control toward advice and consultation.
By ages 16 to 18, young people should generally make their own decisions, with support from parents when needed.
Across the stages, the guidance calls for teaching children the effects and responsibilities of sharing information online.
Japan is debating age-based social media restrictions, while some working group members have expressed caution about making them law.
The group plans a final report around year’s end, and the government aims to submit a bill to revise a youth internet safety law in next year’s regular Diet session.
A joint meeting of Japan’s Children and Families Agency study panel and working group presented guidelines on Nov. 10 for children’s internet use at different developmental stages.
The guidelines divide ages 0 to 18 into six stages and recommend gradually expanding children’s scope to make their own decisions.
For ages 13 to 15, they call for parents to shift from direct control toward advice and consultation.
For ages 16 to 18, they say children should generally make their own decisions, with parental support as needed.
The agency will consider including the guidelines in a basic policy on children’s internet use.
- Who
- A joint meeting of the Children and Families Agency’s study panel and working group presented the guidelines.
- What
- The guidelines set out how children should use the internet at different developmental stages.
- When
- Nov. 10, 2026.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- To protect children from social media risks and support their ability to use the internet responsibly.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A joint meeting of the agency’s study panel and working group presented the guidelines.
The working group plans to compile a final report, including measures to strengthen regulations on social media operators.
The government aims to submit a bill to revise the Act on Establishment of Enhanced Environment for Youth's Safe and Secure Internet Use.
- Age range
- 0 to 18
- Number of stages
- Six
- Ages 13 to 15
- Parents should shift from direct control toward advice and consultation.
- Ages 16 to 18
- Children should generally make their own decisions, with support from parents as needed.
- Proposed report
- The working group plans to compile a final report around the end of 2026.
2 sources
What people are saying
If use restrictions are to be legally mandated, legislative facts commensurate with that are necessary.