The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), China’s digital regulatory body, is implementing new regulations to address youth smartphone addiction.
The decision will have an effect on well-known social media and online gaming platforms operated by online titans like Tencent and ByteDance.
The CAC unveiled a draught law on Wednesday that would prohibit children from using the majority of online services on smartphones between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM.
It also suggested that teenagers aged 16 to 18 should limit their online time to two hours per day. Only one hour would be given to those 8 to 15 years old, and only 40 minutes each day to those under 8.
Although they haven’t yet said which services will be exempt, the CAC will do so for some that they believe will aid in children’s physical and mental development.
Video-sharing websites like Douyin, Bilibili, and Kuaishou have already developed youth modes that restrict the content and time of use for children while also promoting educational materials like science experiments.
Companies like Tencent, the leading online gaming provider in China, and ByteDance, the brains behind the well-known short-video platform Douyin, may be impacted by the new regulations. In China, it is typically up to businesses to enforce these rules.
The CAC asserts that its recent push for youth-oriented internet platforms has been successful in safeguarding minors online.
To better cater to the age groups, it has broadened its scope and enhanced functions and content. The CAC argued that these initiatives have lessened youth internet addiction and shielded them from harmful data.
The CAC has extended the deadline for public comments on these draught laws to 2 September, but it hasn’t said when the new rules will go into effect.
