The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is looking to restrict the amount of time children can spend on their phones in an effort to create ‘a sense of community of the Chinese nation’ and to counter the growing concerns of Internet addiction.
The Chinese Cyberspace Administration proposed the limit earlier this week, suggesting that all phones will have a “minor mode” option, automatically limiting screen time depending on the child’s age. The CCP claims the restrictions would serve to reduce the consumption of “undesirable information” and promote “good morality” based on socialist values.
Children under eight would be restricted to 40 minutes per day, children between eight and 16 would have an hour, and those between 16 and 18 will be permitted to use their phones for two hours. However, all under 18s would be unable to use their phones between 10 pm and 6 am.
The CCP has made a number of attempts to regulate children’s usage of technology in recent years, highlighting the potential risks of spending too much time online. Last year, the Chinese government introduced a one-hour limit for video games.
