January 30, 2026 FY2026 Spring Safety Net Campaign — Coordinated Action for the New Semester (hereinafter the "Spring Safety Net Campaign")

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will implement this year’s Spring Safety Net Campaign from February through May to create an environment where young people can use the Internet securely and safely.

1. Purpose

　With the use of smartphones, tablets and other internet-access devices spreading rapidly among young people in recent years, many have begun using social media.

　However, the prolonged use of these devices gives rise to concerns—such as lifestyle disruption, dependence, and mental health problems.

　Actually, the use of social media by young people has caused various problems. These include, for example, infringing on the privacy of others through the inappropriate use of these devices, being lured through social media into becoming a victim of crime, posting and spreading bullying videos and slander, abusing generative AI to sexually process third-party images, and applying for illegal part-time job offers to become perpetrators of crime.

　To prevent young people from being involved in crimes or trouble through the use of the Internet and to promote the safe and secure use of smartphones and social media, the MIC places a particular focus on the spring season, which is full of school events, such as graduation ceremonies, school admissions, and grade advancements. During this time, many young people receive their first smartphones and other devices. The MIC will collaborate with related ministries, agencies, business operators, and organizations to further promote and intensively implement awareness-raising activities and other initiatives.

　Aiming to improve ICT literacy among a wide range of generations who use the Internet and social media, the MIC is implementing DIGITAL POSITIVE ACTION, an awareness-enhancing project conducted through a public-private partnership. The partners include digital platformers, telecommunications carriers, IT-companies, and related organizations. The project promotes initiatives to further improve ICT literacy—such as creating promotional and awareness-raising materials and holding seminars and symposiums. The details of our initiatives are made publicly available on our website as appropriate.

2. Initiatives in the FY2026 Spring Safety Net Campaign

　The MIC will intensively implement various initiatives in collaboration with relevant ministries, agencies, information and telecommunications companies (such as mobile carriers), and other entities. These initiatives include parental controls* and awareness-raising activities aimed at improving literacy and promoting the appropriate use of the Internet. The parental controls encompass effective technical measures, such as filtering, as well as non-technical measures, such as household rules.

* The term "parental controls" refers to the appropriate management of children's Internet use by parents or guardians, taking into account the child’s developmental stage and overall life cycle. This includes measures to prevent problems stemming from children's information transmission. Control methods are divided into technical measures—such as filtering, billing restrictions, and time management functions—and non-technical measures, such as establishing household rules.

[Examples of the MIC's initiatives]

• ◦ Promote comprehensive ICT literacy improvement initiatives through DIGITAL POSITIVE ACTION
    https://www.soumu.go.jp/dpa/
• ◦ Prepare and publish the 2026 edition of the Internet Trouble Casebook and disseminate it to school boards and other organizations.
    https://www.soumu.go.jp/use_the_internet_wisely/trouble/
• ◦ Encourage the widespread adoption of parental controls and raise awareness of their use through relevant content.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Y84qInjuk
• ◦ Disseminate promotional and awareness-raising content for improving ICT literacy in the form of educational materials targeted at youth, parents, and seniors.
    https://www.soumu.go.jp/use_the_internet_wisely/special/Ictliteracy_for_yps/
• ◦ Develop new educational materials on Internet phenomena (e.g., filter bubbles, echo chambers, attention economy) as promotional and awareness-raising content aimed at enhancing ICT literacy. These materials will be made available on the MIC website around February this year.
    https://www.soumu.go.jp/use_the_internet_wisely/special/nisegojouhou/
• ◦ Develop ICT Literacy Checker, a self-assessment tool for evaluating individual ICT literacy levels. This tool is scheduled to be released at the end of March this year on the MIC website below.
    https://www.soumu.go.jp/use_the_internet_wisely/
• ◦ Re-disseminate the promotional and awareness-raising content through the MIC’s official social media account.

< Cooperation with related ministries and agencies >

• ◦ Request the National Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Senior High Schools and the National PTA Federation of Japan, in collaboration with related ministries and agencies, to cooperate in further raising awareness among parents and guardians.
• ◦ Publish an awareness-raising and promotional leaflet for parents under the joint names of the relevant ministries and agencies
    https://www.cfa.go.jp/policies/youth-kankyou/leaflet/

< Cooperation with related businesses and organizations >

• ◦ Provide promotional and awareness-raising lectures (e-Net Caravan lectures) on the safe and secure use of the Internet in collaboration with the Foundation for MultiMedia Communications and private businesses. Additionally, request that prefectures, designated cities, and their school boards cooperate in disseminating these lectures to further encourage participation.
• ◦ Collaborate with the MIC's local branch offices (such as the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications), PTAs, school boards, and other organizations to implement regional awareness-raising activities, including parental controls.

[Examples of initiatives by related organizations]

• ◦ Mobile carriers and sales agents to develop an explanatory video to promote the use of filtering, distribute the video to their stores for detailed explanation, and display the awareness-raising video at mobile phone stores nationwide.
• ◦ The Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association uses dissemination media to conduct awareness-raising activities promoting the safe and secure use of the Internet.

3. Others

　During the Spring Safety Net Campaign, initiatives by related parties not listed above will also be carried out. Specific details of the initiatives will be posted on the websites of the MIC's local branch offices (such as the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications) and the websites of relevant organizations.