Is Social Media Fueling Self-Harm Among Youth? Insights from Recent X Platform Review

Translation result

The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Review Committee (BMCRC) reviewed self-harm content posted by adolescents on the social media platform X.

On the 30th, at the fifth meeting of the Telecommunications Review Subcommittee, the BMCRC ordered the removal of eight online posts that graphically depicted severe bodily harm or provided detailed descriptions of injured areas. The posts were found to violate Article 8 of the Information and Communications Review Regulations (violation of public morals and social order), subparagraph 2 (information that is seriously violent, cruel, or repulsive).

At the same meeting, the subcommittee determined that 33 youth-related posts on X did not meet the threshold for enforcement. Those posts featured young people tagging #self-harm and sharing photographs of wounds on their wrists, necks, and other areas. The committee secretariat concluded the level of cruelty in these cases did not warrant corrective orders.

The secretariat explained that, compared with cases that receive correction orders, these posts showed milder expressions or only limited signs of injury and blood. It added that because the telecommunications review process focuses primarily on illegal information, evaluations of harmful but not illegal content are made with reference to past rulings and standard practices.

Some commissioners argued for blocking and deleting the content, citing risks of contagion and imitation. Commissioner Choi Seon-young said, “Self-harm content is spreading like a meme among teenagers and can be imitated. Given the clear risk to adolescents’ mental and physical health, blocking access should be considered.”

Commissioner Kim Min-jung said she shared Commissioner Choi’s concerns but cautioned that self-harm posts often indicate someone in crisis. “These cases are more like warning signs. Rather than deleting them outright, I would prefer that friends, parents, or teachers discover the posts so appropriate intervention can follow,” she said, adding, “Can we notify relevant agencies to enable coordinated social and cultural responses?”

The secretariat responded that urging platform operators to implement effective self-regulation is likely to be more practical. It said the agency regularly collaborates with overseas platform providers to compile cases and explore proactive measures the platforms can take.

Four commissioners, excluding Commissioner Choi, agreed with the secretariat’s assessment, and the subcommittee voted that the 33 posts were not subject to enforcement. Telecommunications Subcommittee Chair Kim Woo-seok said, “Rather than abruptly changing our standards, we should respect existing practices while making gradual adjustments to preserve legal stability. We will strengthen the regulations when they are revised.”