Japan’s Children and Families Agency has drafted new government guidelines recommending that parents and guardians restrict young children’s exposure to social media and internet content.
The draft, released Tuesday, November 10, sets out to address online safety by dividing minors from ages zero to 18 into six distinct brackets with tailored precautions for each age group.
For early childhood up to age 2—identified as a critical window for physical and mental development—the agency advises parents to carefully select digital content and prevent excessive screen time. The draft emphasizes that priority during these formative years should be placed on direct human interaction, urging adults to evaluate the genuine purpose and necessity of a child’s digital device use.
As children grow and their online interactions evolve, the guidelines shift recommendations accordingly:
- Ages 6 to 9: With children beginning to use devices for educational purposes, the draft suggests offering opportunities for independent thinking and decision-making within a secure online space.
- Ages 13 to 15: As teens become more active on social platforms, parents are advised to respect their privacy and autonomy rather than heavily monitoring their internet activity.
Additionally, the draft calls on schools to help students build critical judgment skills for proper digital use, while urging service providers to create accessible reporting and support systems for young users.
Specific measures will continue to be evaluated through ongoing expert panel meetings to finalize the protective framework.