Have you read about how Chinese authorities are proposing a daily 2-hour limit on mobile phone usage for teens? This latest guideline by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) was published last Wednesday Aug 2, and states that youth between the ages of 16 and 18 would only be able to use the internet for two hours a day.
According to news sources such as ABC News and CNBC News, the guidelines further stipulate that minors would not be allowed to use most internet services on mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. In addition, 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.
Naturally, there are a few exemptions from these time-restrictions, though specific apps and products were not listed by the CAC. The drafted regulation proposes that mobile devices have a “minor mode” for those under 18 years of age, allowing parents to manage and supervise the content. On top of cooperation from parents, companies in China are expected to be responsible for enforcing regulations.
The country’s popular video streaming platforms such as Douyin and Bilibili currently offer youth modes that restrict the type of content shown to minors, as well as how long they can stay on the app. Children are also shown educational content like science experiments.
This isn’t the first time that China has made a move to curb the populace’s growing appetite for digital products and services. Back in 2021, authorities passed regulations that restricted youths below 18 years of age to playing online video games for a maximum of three hours per week.
Personally, I can appreciate the good intentions behind the government advisory. I also understand how tricky it can be to enforce such regulations, and thus believe more in self-motivation of both the parent and child to regulate their own device usage. Specifically for Beijing, developing holistic education outside of traditional curriculum; where youth embrace nature and activity as much as books and malls, would make a difference in kids’ online habits.
These guidelines have yet to be passed as law and are currently open to public forum until Sep 2. What are your thoughts on this regulation – yay or nay? Share with us in the comments below!
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