China Implements Two-Hour Daily Limit on Teenagers’ Smartphone Use to Combat Mobile Addiction
China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has announced stringent measures that restrict the amount of time teenagers can spend on their smartphones. Under these new rules, screen time for users aged 16 to 18 will be limited to two hours per day, while those under 16 will have only one hour. Surprisingly, children under eight years old will be allowed just eight minutes of device usage.
The CAC aims to introduce “minor mode programs” for smart devices that would prohibit users under the age of 18 from accessing the internet between 10 pm and 6 am. Although parents may have the option to opt out of these restrictions, tech investors expressed dissatisfaction with these proposed reforms.
Following the publication of CAC’s proposals and its open call for public feedback until early September, shares in Chinese tech firms listed in Hong Kong experienced declines. Bilibili and Kuaishou saw drops of 6.98% and 3.53%, respectively; Tencent Holdings closed at a decrease of 2.99%. Tech companies anticipate significant challenges in implementing these regulations effectively due to the increased effort and costs involved.
Lawyer Xia Hailong from Shanghai Shenlun law firm cautioned that many internet companies might consider entirely banning minors from using their services rather than risk non-compliance with these strict regulations.
This crackdown is not unprecedented as Chinese authorities have previously taken steps to address concerns over nearsightedness and internet addiction among young people by implementing reforms within the tech industry. In recent years, there were already strict limitations placed on online gaming hours for children under 18—weeknight bans and restricted playtime between specific hours on weekends were enforced starting in 2021.
Video-sharing platforms such as Bilibili, Kuaishou, ByteDance (owner/operator of TikTok), and Douyin (TikTok-like app) have also introduced “teenage modes” that restrict access to certain content and set time limits for usage. ByteDance’s Douyin, for instance, prohibits teenagers from using the platform for more than 40 minutes.
While these measures aim to address concerns related to youth well-being, they pose challenges for both internet companies and young users who will need to adapt to stricter screen time regulations in China.
