China’s internet watchdog has laid out regulations to curb the amount of time children spend on their smartphones, in the latest blow to firms such as Tencent and ByteDance, which run social media platforms and online games.
The Cyberspace Administration of China on Wednesday published the draft guidelines on its site, stating that minors would not be allowed to use 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 only be able to use the internet for two hours a day.
Children between the ages of 8 and 15 would be allowed only an hour a day, while those under 8 would only be allowed 40 minutes.
Only certain services, such as apps or platforms that are deemed suitable to the physical and mental development of minors, will be exempted. The CAC did not specify which internet services would be allowed exemptions.
The restrictions are Beijing’s latest efforts to attempt to limit internet addiction, a problem it views as widespread among its youth. In 2019, Beijing limited children’s daily online game time to 90 minutes a day and tightened those restrictions in 2021, allowing children only an hour a day of online game play on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.
Short-video and online video platforms like Douyin, Bilibili and Kuaishou have offered youth modes that restrict the type of content shown to minors and the length of time they can use the service. Children are also pushed educational content, such as science experiments.
The latest restrictions would impact firms like Tencent, China’s largest online game company, and ByteDance, which runs popular short-video platform Douyin. Firms in China are often responsible for enforcing regulations.
“To effectively strengthen the online protection of minors, the CAC has in recent years pushed for the establishment of a youth mode on internet platforms, expanding its coverage, optimizing its functions and enriching it with age-appropriate content,” the CAC said.
“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 said draft guidelines were open to public feedback until Sep. 2. It did not say when the new rules would be into effect.
(AP)
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7 Responses
For thousands of years (according our tradition), or hundreds of thousands of years (according to the goyim), people grew up with smartphones. They managed to invent writing, mathematics, sciences and all sorts of useful things, and were not handicapped by lack of smartphones. Looking at the educational attainment of children in all cultures in the last generation, it does not appear to have been improved by smartphones.
agree with akuperma…..only to the point of according to our tradition…..I don’t think ‘according to goyem’ has any affect, effect at all, they actually have nothing period…so , lets, not join them, what will we do with the next 216 years that will improve our abilities…..LOVING HASHEM
that is the best thing ever, now if I could limit my time on the smartphone to only 2 hours too!
Yes they are smart. They don’t want their kids to grow up low energy depressed losers who hide in their rooms most of the day watching TikTok. Unfortunately that is the metzius of so many western kids.
Sounds like a great Idea, with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong when the government decides whats best for your children?
So China, How will you punish your people, you punished by two children because of population …..all in regard to G-ds will not yours, what else will you do before we shut all our doors to your evil and demented ways….Shame on you, a region of confusion ,
Maybe they actually have the right idea, and WE are wrong! But parents are too afraid of their kids to enforce such limits. It takes a government! Nuts.