Tokyo: An advisory panel at Japan's Children and Families Agency has emphasized the need to consider imposing penalties on social media operators if their measures to ensure the safe use of services by children are deemed insufficient.

According to Philippines News Agency, social media operators are urged to assess the risks posed to children by their platforms and to enhance safety measures based on these assessments. The panel has released an interim report and plans to finalize it by the end of the year, as the agency prepares for potential law revisions during next year's ordinary session of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

Currently, the law on safe internet use by children focuses on restricting access to harmful content. However, the panel's discussions arise in the context of increasing cases where children are involved in illegal part-time jobs and are victims of sexual offenses and consumer scams via social media and online gaming platforms.

With the complexities of risks to children on social media evolving, the panel's report asserts that social media operators should carry appropriate responsibility and calls for a framework to continuously update their safety protocols. The panel also advocates for more robust age-verification methods that do not rely on self-declaration by users, suggesting the use of the My Number personal identification card as a potential solution.

The interim report indicates ongoing discussions regarding the potential for blanket age restrictions, acknowledging that online spaces can be an important place of belonging for some children. Additionally, the report highlights concerns about certain features of social media services, like algorithm-based recommendations and infinite scroll functions, which may encourage prolonged use.