On 16 June, the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) Project Team (PT) on Life Safety Education (LSE), in collaboration with Plan International Japan and Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), held a public symposium entitled "Can Banning Social Media Solve the Problems? – Exploring Safety in the Digital Age with Children and Young People“ in a hybrid format. The symposium brought together 168 participants both in person and online, including parliamentarians, high school and university students, officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Children and Families Agency, Meta Japan, and experts, who engaged in discussions on ensuring the safety of children and young people in the digital age.

The symposium opened with a keynote presentation by Professor Takeuchi Kazuo of the University of Hyogo, titled "The Reality of Children, Young People and Social Media: Insights from Data and the Voices of Young People." Drawing on both data and young people's perspectives, Professor Takeuchi reviewed domestic and international debates surrounding social media use and underscored the fact that social media and the internet have become indispensable parts of daily life. He also raised important questions about how best to safeguard children and young people in an increasingly digital society. The subsequent panel discussion examined whether restrictions alone are sufficient to address online risks. Participants actively exchanged views on balancing access to information with safety, the responsibilities of platform providers, media literacy education, and the role of LSE. High school and university students presented recommendations directed at educators, parents, businesses, and national and local governments. Young participants stressed that "adults should not provide guidance on social media without understanding how it is actually used," called on companies to "reconsider highly addictive applications and platform designs," and urged governments to "develop policies based on a thorough understanding of the current social media environment." They emphasized that the perspectives and lived experiences of children and young people should be meaningfully reflected in both policymaking and educational initiatives.