China’s internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has recently announced regulations aimed at reducing the excessive smartphone usage among children. This move poses a challenge to companies like Tencent and ByteDance, which operate popular social media platforms and online games. The draft guidelines, which were published on the CAC’s website, state that minors will be prohibited from utilizing most internet services on their mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Moreover, children between the ages of 16 and 18 will only be permitted to use the internet for a maximum of two hours per day.
The guidelines further specify that children aged 8 to 15 will have a daily internet usage limit of one hour, while those under 8 will only be allowed 40 minutes. However, certain services, such as apps or platforms that align with the physical and mental development of minors, may receive exemptions. Unfortunately, the CAC did not provide a comprehensive list of the services that will be exempted.
These restrictions are part of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to combat internet addiction among young people. In previous years, there have been limitations placed on daily online game time, with the most recent restriction allowing only one hour of gameplay per day on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays. Additionally, short-video and online video platforms like Douyin, Bilibili, and Kuaishou have implemented youth modes that impose content restrictions and time limits for minors. These platforms also offer educational content to promote learning.
The implementation of these new regulations will impact major companies in China’s online space, such as Tencent and ByteDance. These companies are often tasked with enforcing the regulations and ensuring compliance. The CAC acknowledges the positive impact of its previous measures and states that the establishment and improvement of youth modes on internet platforms have effectively reduced youth internet addiction and exposure to undesirable content.
The draft guidelines are currently open for public feedback until September 2, and the CAC has not provided a specific date for when the rules will go into effect. It is essential for companies to stay updated on these developments and adapt their services accordingly to comply with the regulations.
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BEIJING (AP) — 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.
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