‘Short-form’ Content Leads in Youth Media Use; Half Use Generative AI

- Results from the "2024 Youth Media Use and Harmful Environment Survey"

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) announced the results of the “2024 Youth Media Use and Harmful Environment Survey” (hereinafter referred to as “the survey”) conducted last year among 15,053 youths attending elementary (grades 4-6), middle, and high schools across 17 provinces and cities nationwide.

The survey results will be used as foundational data for the “Fifth Comprehensive Measures for Protection of Youth (2025-2027)” being established this year.

[Key Findings of the Survey]

Over the past year, the most used media among youths was short-form content (94.2%), ranking top in all school levels (first in elementary, second in middle and high schools), and about half of the youths used generative AI (49.9%).

The usage rate of adult content among youths in the last year was 26.5%, a 21.0 percentage points decrease from 2022 (47.5%), and the 'use rate of adult publications' also continuously decreased to 11.2% (from 24.9% in 2020, 24.1% in 2022 to 11.2% in 2024).

Middle and high school students' experience with online gambling-type games decreased overall from 2022, with card/Hwatu games at 2.7% (down 1.9 percentage points), online gambling games at 1.9% (down 0.9 percentage points), internet sports betting at 1.0% (down 0.6 percentage points), and internet lottery purchases at 0.7% (down 0.2 percentage points).

The victimization rate of violence* among youths in the past year was 22.6%, with verbal violence (offline 16.0%, online 9.1%) being the most common, and the rate of sexual violence** victimization was 5.2%, with harassment through words, looks, or gestures being the most prevalent (2.7%).

* It includes verbal, physical violence, bullying, and extortion both online and offline 

** It includes sexual violence, sexual harassment, and stalking both online and offline

While the overall violence victimization rate increased from 16.3% in 2022, the rate of sexual violence decreased from 5.5% in 2022, with the majority of perpetrators being students from the same school (violence 62.1%, sexual violence 60.0%).

The positive response rates indicating that violence prevention and sexual violence prevention education were helpful increased to 83.0% for violence and 83.3% for sexual violence, up from 72.4% and 73.5% in 2022, respectively.

The recent one-month, alcohol consumption experience among youth (middle and high school students) was 12.1%, and smoking experience was 2.4%, both showing a decrease from 2022 (alcohol 13.7%, smoking 4.2%).

Youths who had directly purchased alcohol and tobacco mainly did so from convenience stores, shops, supermarkets (alcohol 72.7%, tobacco 80.2%), and the rates of not performing age or identity verification in these places decreased to 40.4% for alcohol and 32.1% for tobacco from 47.9% and 34.2% in 2022, respectively.

In the past year, 0.3% of youths reported having used medical narcotic analgesics, and 0.3% reported having used medical narcotic appetite suppressants.

Regarding the use of establishments prohibited for youth entry and employment, 12.6% of the surveyed youths (middle and high school students) reported using room cafes, showing the highest usage rate.

The primary means by which youths became aware of the entry and employment bans at certain establishments were through media (40.1%), notices posted at the establishments (35.3%), and internet social network services (31.3%).

The part-time job experience rate among youths was 6.2%, down from 7.3% in 2022. There was a significant shift in the payment method from hourly wage (71.3% in 2022 to 41.9% in 2024) to monthly salary (from 10.0% in 2022 to 31.1% in 2024).

Among youths with part-time job experience, the rate of not having a written employment contract continuously decreased (from 53.1% in 2020 to 49.4% in 2022 to 36.4% in 2024), and the rate of experience with labor rights education continuously increased (from 50.2% in 2020 to 64.0% in 2022 to 71.1% in 2024).

MOGEF plans to further strengthen youth protection policies based on the analysis of this survey's results.

Education for the Youth Harmful Media Inspection Group* (since 2021, 100 members) will be intensified to promptly block illegal and harmful content such as drugs and cyber gambling information mediated online, and benefits for cooperative online operators who self-regulate will be expanded.

* The group performs activities such as inspecting and reporting illegal and harmful information on online platforms.

Through the "Youth Media Usage Habit Diagnostic Survey," efforts are made to actively identify youths in need of help due to internet and smartphone over-dependence and cyber gambling issues, linking them to customized healing services such as counseling, treatment, and healing camps

- In particular, in response to the younger age trend in media over-dependence, the National Center for Youth Internet Addiction Treatment (NYIT)*, a permanent residential healing institution, is planning to conduct a pilot camp for upper elementary school students for the first time.

* The center carries out comprehensive and specialized healing programs to alleviate internet and smartphone over-dependence.

Youth Counseling 1388 (available 24/7) and the Youth Counseling and Welfare Centers (240 locations) are used to identify youths in crisis situations such as school violence and suicidal/self-harming behaviors, providing one-stop support for customized services including counseling, protection, medical care, and independence.

- The Korean Institute for Gender Equality Promotion and Education (KIGEPE) plans to develop and distribute (17 types) interactive violence prevention education content suitable for youths, such as games, quizzes, and talk shows, to increase sensitivity towards violence.

An amendment to the Youth Protection Act is being pursued to establish a mandatory age verification cooperation when entering harmful establishments or purchasing harmful drugs or items.

- The scope of the Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Teams* active in local communities will be expanded (from 274 in 2024 to 277 in 2025) to enable constant monitoring and discovery of youth harmful establishments.

* The teams perform inspection and guidance activities to improve various harmful environments for youths within basic local governments.

Hwang Yun-jung, Director of the Youth and Family Policy Office, stated, "As the online and offline environments surrounding youths are rapidly changing, youths are being exposed to various harmful factors."

She added, "Based on the analysis of the results of this survey, we will make concerted efforts to strengthen protection policies against harmful environments for youths, ensuring they can grow in a safer environment."