China proposes severe rules for internet-addicted minors
The proposed rules include a tiered system that imposes different restrictions for each age group. | Photo by Hugo Hu / Getty Images
Chinese minors are facing harsh restrictions on mobile phone and internet usage as part of the country’s latest bid to curb perceived internet addiction. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published draft regulations on Wednesday that would introduce a “minor mode” (according to a machine translation) on devices like smartphones, tablets, and watches that will limit access to content and device usage based on the child’s age.
For example, teens between the ages of 16 and 18 will be restricted to two hours of mobile usage each day under the draft regulations. All devices running “minor mode” — regardless of the child’s age — will be prohibited from accessing the internet between 10PM and 6AM. Some of these restrictions can be…
