Afraid of Epidemic Internet Addiction, China Restricts Children to Playing Mobile Phones
Chinese President Xi Jinping released strict rules that would prohibit children from using cell phones (HP) excessively. The law was proposed amid alarming levels of "internet addiction" among Beijing's youth. According to China, the internet makes children addicted to the point of causing a decline in morality.
The Chinese Cyber Administration Agency, which is the main internet regulator in the Bamboo Curtain country, issued this proposal on Wednesday (2/8/2023). Among other things, all mobile devices, apps and app stores are required to have a “minor mode” built in which will limit daily screen time to a maximum of two hours a day, depending on age group.
With this mode, children and teenagers will not be able to use cellphones for more than two hours because the cellphone screen (HP) will turn off when the time limit is reached. Those between the ages of 8 and 16 are only allowed to play on their phones for one hour out of 24 hours. Children under 8 years old are only allowed to stare at a cellphone screen for 40 minutes a day. All age groups will receive reminders to rest after using their phones for more than 30 minutes.
This is a new government restriction regarding the use of mobile phones by children and adolescents in the country. Two years ago, China banned online gamers under 18 from playing on weekdays and limited their activity to three hours on weekends.
Around that time, several technology companies introduced approaches that allowed parents to supervise their children. Douyin, China's version of TikTok, is one of them. In 2021, the video-sharing app introduced a "youth mode" that limits the amount of time children under 14 can spend to 40 minutes a day.
