Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Upcoming Japanese government guidelines are expected to say that parents and other guardians should limit the exposure of young children to social media and other internet content, a draft showed Tuesday. The draft, created by the Children and Families Agency, outlined key issues that need to be discussed to complete the guidelines for setting up an appropriate environment for children to use social media services and the internet. During early childhood up to age 2, a critical period for the development of children’s minds and bodies, parents should select the content their children view and ensure they do not spend excessive time using digital services, the draft said. In the draft, the agency divided those aged zero to 18 into six age groups and outlined precautions for each, saying that children’s interactions with social media and the online environments for them change with age. The agency hopes that specific measures will be discussed at expert panel meetings and elsewhere to establish the guidelines to protect children from risks related to social media and other online services. For children aged zero to 2, the draft said that priority should be given to direct interactions with other people, stressing that parents should assess the purpose and necessity of their children’s use of social media and other digital services. For those aged 6 to 9, who begin using devices for educational purposes, the draft proposed providing more opportunities for them to think independently and make choices for themselves in a safe online environment. For those aged 13 to 15, who become more active in interactions on social media, the draft said that parents should respect children’s independence and privacy rather than trying to fully manage their online activities. Schools should help children develop the ability to make judgments so that they can use social media appropriately, the draft said, calling on service providers to establish systems that children can use easily to seek advice and report problems. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
