China might set smartphone time limit for minors
China’s internet watchdog has proposed new rules to limit the amount of time kids spend on smartphone, dealing another blow to companies like Tencent and ByteDance, which operate social media platforms and online gaming.
Smartphone time limit by China?
The Cyberspace Administration of China published the draught guidelines on its website on Wednesday, stating that minors would be prohibited from using most internet services on mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and that children between the ages of 16 and 18 would be limited to two hours of internet use per day.
Children between 8 and 15 would be limited to an hour daily, while those under 8 would be limited to 40 minutes.
Only specific applications, such as apps or platforms deemed suitable for minors’ physical and mental development, will be exempt. The CAC made no mention of which internet services would be exempt.
The decision might affect the big firms:
The limits are the latest attempt by Beijing to curtail internet addiction, which it sees as a pervasive problem among its youth.
Beijing limited children’s daily online gaming time to 90 minutes per day in 2019, then tightened those limitations even more in 2021, allowing children only an hour of online game play per day on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.
Short video and online video platforms like Douyin, Bilibili, and Kuaishou have youth modes that limit the content presented to children and the length of time they can use the service. Children are also pushed on instructional topics such as science activities.
The latest restrictions will affect firms such as Tencent, China’s largest online gaming giant, and ByteDance, which operates the popular short-video platform Douyin. Firms in China are frequently responsible for enforcing legislation.
CAC issued their statement:
“To effectively strengthen the online protection of minors, the CAC has pushed in recent years for the establishment of a youth mode on internet platforms, expanding its coverage, optimising its functions, and enriching it with age-appropriate content,” the CAC stated.
“Since the mode was launched, there has been a positive impact in reducing youth internet addiction and the impact of undesirable information,” it added.
The CAC stated that draught guidelines were accessible for public comment until September 2. It did not specify when the new rules would take effect.
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