Tech companies in China are bracing for a heavy blow as the Chinese online regulator has released an early form of new rules that limit minors’ smartphone use to a maximum of two hours a day.
The move is aimed at reducing the amount of time children spend on their smart devices as smartphone and internet addiction is increasingly becoming a national social issue. The rules say minors are not permitted to use the internet on mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with only emergency calls and approved apps running.
The Cyberspace Administration of China is also requiring all device manufacturers, operating systems, and app stores to have a so-called “minor mode” to cap time spent on screens. App makers and distributors must change their interface to comply with this mode.
The guideline limits internet use time via smart devices depending on one’s age. It limits users aged 16-18 to two hours a day, while those under 16 would be limited to one hour. Children under eight are restricted to a maximum of 40 minutes. The limitations can be waived by parents, depending on the situation.
There are also regulations targeting the idol fandom culture including limiting content related to fundraising or popular voting. The move affects companies such as Tencent and ByteDance, which run social media platforms and online games that are hugely profitable as a result of the large number of young gamers across China.
The number of people in China that played video games has grown to a record 668 million as of the end of June this year, which represents about half of the population. This is fueled by fast 5G internet connectivity. Omdia research suggests when combined with the cloud, China is on track to add over 600,000 5G base stations and reach 2.9 million by the end of this year.
China’s recent proposal to curb internet usage came two years after the Chinese government restricted video gaming and online gameplay among minors to less than three hours a week. The Chinese government will finalize the new rule after gathering public opinion until September 2.