In an effort to tackle the growing issue of internet addiction among minors, China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has put forth a proposal to restrict internet access for children and teenagers.
The proposal aims to create a healthier online environment and instil positive internet habits among the younger population.
According to the proposal announced on Wednesday, individuals under the age of 18 will be prohibited from accessing the internet on mobile devices between 10 pm and 6 am daily.
Additionally, the CAC plans to implement a tiered system based on age, with varying levels of internet access allowed for different age groups.
Children under the age of eight will have a daily internet limit of 40 minutes, while teenagers aged between 16 and 18 will be allowed a maximum of two hours of internet access per day.
Those aged between eight and 16 will have a one-hour daily limit. The revised regulations are set to be open for public discussion and are scheduled to take effect on September 2.
The CAC justified the proposed changes by stating that they aim to harness the positive potential of the internet while curbing the problem of minors’ internet addiction.
The regulations align with existing laws and are intended to guide youngsters in forming healthier online habits.
The strict control over internet access for minors in China is made possible due to the country’s real name registration systems for online activities and strict compliance measures enforced on tech companies.
This is not the first time China has taken measures to curb internet addiction among minors. In 2021, the government imposed restrictions on online gaming time for children under 18, leading to significant impacts on gaming companies like Tencent.
Under the new proposal, the CAC is calling for providers of smart devices to implement “minor mode” programmes, which would automatically restrict internet access for users under 18 during designated hours. Furthermore, these providers will be required to set time limits on internet usage for different age groups.
While the proposed regulations have sent shockwaves through the tech industry, causing a decline in shares of tech companies, the CAC emphasises that parents will have the option to exempt their children from these time limits.
It is worth noting that video-sharing platforms like Bilibili, Kuaishou, and ByteDance have already implemented “teenage modes” that restrict content access and usage time for younger users.
The proposed internet restrictions come in the wake of signals from Beijing suggesting the conclusion of a regulatory crackdown on the technology industry. The Chinese authorities have expressed their intention to support the growth of tech giants despite the recent regulatory changes.