China Wants to Limit Minors to No More Than 2 Hours a Day on Their Phones

China is taking steps to address internet addiction among minors by proposing new measures to restrict the amount of time children and teenagers can spend on their mobile devices.

The proposal, released by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top internet regulator, requires all mobile devices, apps, and app stores to incorporate a “minor mode” that limits daily screen time to a maximum of two hours, depending on the age group.

If approved, these restrictions would expand on existing measures aimed at reducing screen time among children and shielding them from “undesirable information.” Under the draft rules, children and teens using devices in minor mode will have online applications automatically close once their respective time limits are reached. They will also receive “age-based content.”

The proposed regulations set specific time limits for different age groups. Children under eight years old will be limited to 40 minutes of phone usage per day, while those between eight and 16 years old will be allowed one hour of screen time. Teenagers aged 16 to 18 will have a maximum of two hours.

Additionally, no one under 18 will be able to access their screens between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. while using the minor mode. Furthermore, all age groups will receive reminders to take breaks after using their devices for more than 30 minutes.

The proposal also calls for mobile internet service providers to create content that promotes “core socialist values” and fosters a sense of the Chinese national community.

Parents will have the option to override time restrictions, and certain educational and emergency services will be exempt from the time limits.

The issue of “internet addiction” has become a major social concern in China, leading to the emergence of treatment centres of questionable efficacy and safety.

While some parents expressed tentative support for the proposal, citing potential benefits such as protecting children’s eyesight and facilitating parental control, its effectiveness may depend on parents’ buy-in, especially if children use their parents’ accounts for online activities.

The proposed measures may also pose challenges for tech companies, which will likely be responsible for enforcing these regulations. Following the announcement of the proposed rules, shares of several top Chinese internet firms, including Tencent and Bilibili, experienced significant declines.

China’s large internet user base, with approximately one in five users aged 19 or under, highlights the importance of addressing screen time and internet addiction among minors in the country.

The effectiveness and impact of the proposed measures will be closely monitored by the global community, as China’s initiative to curb screen time and promote “good morality” and “socialist values” among its young population could influence digital policies in other countries.