S Korea’s media watchdog mulls social media ban for minors
Seoul, July 16: South Korea’s media watchdog said Thursday it is considering a social media restriction for children aged 14 years and younger amid escalating concerns over excessive use of such platforms. Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of the Korea Media and Communications Commission, made the remarks at a policy briefing in Cheong Wa Dae, emphasizing that excessive social media use by teenagers is a worldwide problem. “We are reviewing, in phases, a plan to restrict children under 14 years of age from creating accounts on social media platforms, and limiting exposure to designs and algorithms that could encourage excessive use of such platforms for teens aged 14 to 19,” Kim said, Yonhap News Agency reported. “There are around seven related pieces of legislation proposed at the National Assembly,” he added. Kim, however, acknowledged the issue should be approached carefully, recalling the Shutdown Law in 2011, which prohibited minors under 16 from accessing online games from midnight to 6 am. The decade-old legislation was eventually scrapped in January 2022, following calls that the law infringes upon people’s basic rights and negatively affects the game and culture industry. (IANS)
Uganda discharges last Ebola patient
Kampala, July 16: Uganda on Thursday discharged its last Ebola patient after the person tested negative for the virus, marking the start of the country’s 42-day countdown to declare the outbreak over if no new cases are detected. Uganda’s Minister of Health, Chris Baryomunsi, presided over the symbolic discharge ceremony at Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital, Kampala. During the ceremony, Baryomunsi presented the patient with an Ebola discharge certificate stating that he no longer poses a risk of transmitting the virus after testing negative, Xinhua news agency reported. “His current state of health does not constitute a danger to the community and can therefore return to his household and professional environment and continue with his normal activities,” the minister said. “The community and the authorities are requested to accept him in order to promote his social reintegration,” he added. (IANS)
Venezuela quake death toll rises to 4,829
Caracas, July 16: The death toll from the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 4,829, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Wednesday. The number of injured remained at 16,740, according to figures released in an update on social media by Rodriguez. Authorities have set up 106 temporary camps, which are now housing 20,857 people affected by the disaster, and more than 63,000 personnel remain deployed in search and rescue operations, reports Xinhua news agency. Venezuela has recorded 1,284 aftershocks since the twin earthquakes struck three weeks ago, according to the update.Earlier on July 11, A total of 18,437 people affected by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have been moved to shelters, Hector Rodriguez, vice president for social affairs, said Saturday on Telegram. Rodriguez said 94 temporary camps have been set up so far. (IANS)
