Chinese regulators have put forth new rules aiming to restrict the amount of time minors spend on their smartphones. Under the proposed regulations, individuals aged 16 to 18 would be allowed two hours of phone usage per day, while those aged eight to 16 would have a one-hour limit. Children under eight years old would be limited to just eight minutes. The rules also propose the implementation of a “minor mode” on smart devices, blocking users under 18 from accessing the internet on their mobiles between 10 pm and 6 am.
The move comes in response to growing concerns among authorities about rising rates of myopia and internet addiction among young people. By imposing such limits, Chinese authorities aim to exert more control over digital life in the country. If the draft rules by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) become law, major mobile app companies, such as TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, may face significant implications.
To comply with the proposed reforms, providers must set time limits for underage users. However, parents will also have the option to exempt their children from these limits. While the Chinese government has expressed support for tech giants’ development, the introduction of daily smartphone usage limits could pose challenges and additional costs for internet companies. Legal experts suggest that some companies may choose to directly prohibit minors from using their services to avoid compliance risks.
The CAC’s proposal follows a previous government-imposed curfew on online video game players under 18, impacting gaming giants like Tencent. Additionally, video-sharing platforms such as Bilibili, Kuaishou, and ByteDance have already introduced “teenage modes” to restrict content access and usage duration since 2019. Nevertheless, the announcement of the draft guidelines had a negative impact on the shares of Chinese tech firms in the Hong Kong market.
