Chinese regulators have put forth a radical proposal that could reshape the digital landscape for young users.
The proposal aims to restrict smartphone screen time for individuals under the age of 18 to a maximum of two hours per day, in an effort to combat addiction and promote healthier online habits.
The draft rules, introduced by the influential Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), have raised eyebrows among tech giants and sparked debates about parental control, implementation challenges, and potential impacts on the industry.
Age-Based Restrictions and Enforcement Challenges
The draft rules outline specific time limits for different age groups of minors.
According to CNBC, children under the age of eight will be restricted to a maximum of 40 minutes of smartphone usage per day, while those between eight and 16 will have a daily allowance of one hour.
Teenagers aged between 16 and 17 are granted a slightly extended period of two hours per day.
Furthermore, a curfew will be imposed, with no smartphone services available to minors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day.
While the proposal holds the promise of safeguarding young minds from excessive screen time, there are challenges to its practical implementation and enforcement.
One significant question is whether device manufacturers or operating system providers will be responsible for creating and integrating the minor mode.
This could potentially require companies like Apple to develop unique solutions tailored to the Chinese market.
Curbing Digital Addiction and Empowering Parents
The CAC has long been concerned about the effects of excessive screen time on young users.
To address this, the proposed draft rules represent a broader initiative to curtail addiction and promote healthier digital habits among minors.
This is not the first time the CAC has taken such measures; in 2021, they introduced regulations limiting the gaming hours of minors to three hours per week.
NBC News reported that the introduction of "minor mode" is a significant step in empowering parents to manage their children's online activities.
The special mode is designed specifically for users under 18 and aims to give parents greater control over the content their children access.
Internet service providers are also expected to utilize the minor mode to display age-appropriate content, catering to the diverse needs of different age groups.
The proposed draft rules are part of a broader initiative by Chinese authorities to curb addiction among young users to mobile apps and devices.
Now, the CAC is looking to further tighten measures by focusing on screen time limits for smartphones.
Tech Giants Under Scrutiny
As the draft rules are open to public consultation, China's technology giants are closely monitoring the situation.
Companies such as Tencent and ByteDance, which run some of the country's largest mobile apps, could face significant changes if the proposal becomes law.
The industry is carefully evaluating the potential impact on their operations and revenue, as young users are an essential part of their user base.
According to Nikkei Asia, Xia Hailong, a legal expert from Shanghai Shenlun Law Firm, the proposed rules would pose significant challenges for internet companies.
He stated that complying with the new regulatory requirements would demand substantial effort and incur additional costs.
Moreover, the risk of failing to meet the compliance standards would be considerable. As a result, Xia Hailong believes that many internet companies might opt to take a straightforward approach by directly prohibiting minors from accessing their services.
