The Blubber

In recent years, China has taken several measures to regulate various aspects of children's online activities. After initially cracking down on video games and limiting livestreaming by children, the country's internet regulator has now proposed new regulations aimed at reducing children's smartphone usage.

Under the proposed regulations, smartphones, apps, and app stores would be required to incorporate a "minor mode" into their products. The primary objective is to control the amount of time children spend on their phones and to regulate the type of content they can access.

This proposal, which is currently open for public feedback, represents an extension of the Chinese government's efforts to curb what it perceives as negative influences on children's online behavior.

According to the proposed guidelines, the "minor mode" feature would address concerns related to "internet addiction" by setting a daily limit of 40 minutes of smartphone usage for children under 8 years old. The time limit would gradually increase with age, allowing a maximum of two hours of smartphone usage per day for those aged 16 to 18.

Furthermore, apps would be required to tailor their content based on different age groups. For example, children below the age of 3 should be presented with nursery rhymes and programs suitable for watching with parents. Those between 8 and 12 years old could access videos related to life skills, general knowledge, age-appropriate news, and "entertainment content for positive guidance," as outlined in documents from the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Overall, the Chinese government appears to take on the role of the primary authority when it comes to managing children's media consumption in the country, according to Sun Sun Lim, a professor specializing in communication and technology at Singapore Management University.