China leads in restricting social media for minors, surpassing the US.
China Implements Strict Measures to Restrict Teenage Access to Mobile Devices and the Internet
China has taken significant steps to limit teenagers’ access to mobile devices and the internet, surpassing the United States in its efforts. While the U.S. is still debating the balance between protecting minors and upholding free speech, China has implemented a major crackdown.
The Cyberspace Administration of China recently released new guidelines that impose restrictions on teenagers’ smartphone usage. According to the rules, minors are prohibited from accessing the internet on their mobile devices between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Additionally, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are limited to a maximum of two hours of mobile device use per day.
“To strengthen protection of minors, in past years, the CAC has continued to push the construction of an internet model for youths, expanded its reach, improved its functions, and enriched age-appropriate content,” the agency said in the regulations. “They’ve had a positive impact in lessening youth internet addiction and curbing the impact of undesirable information.”
These new restrictions will primarily affect popular Chinese apps like Douyin, the Chinese TikTok clone, and WeChat, known as the country’s “everything app,” according to Bloomberg.
The CAC has made it clear that providers will be held accountable for enforcing these rules, although specific penalties have not been listed. The apps must undergo regular checks and assessments to ensure compliance with the CAC’s regulations. They are also required to provide relevant data upon request.
China’s efforts to regulate teenage access to the internet and mobile devices are driven by concerns about mental health and productivity. The government views technology as a “social ill” that negatively impacts health and productivity. As a result, strict regulations have been imposed on online gaming for teenagers, limiting their playtime to a maximum of three hours on weekends.
Douyin, the Chinese TikTok clone, has already implemented restrictions in 2021. Teenage users can only use the app for 40 minutes a day, and it is inaccessible to children aged 14 or younger between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The app also includes five-second pauses between videos and prioritizes educational content in its algorithms.
Debate in the United States
In contrast, the United States has seen a surge in efforts to regulate social media and mobile device use by minors due to concerns about their mental health and well-being.
TikTok has become the most popular social media app among minors in the U.S., with children and teenagers spending an average of over 90 minutes a day on the platform, according to a survey by parental control software maker Qustodio.
“TikTok is built like an indoctrination machine, and its user base is comprised of one of the most impressionable and vulnerable populations: children,” Sen. James Risch (R-ID), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote in a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan.
Tristan Harris, an anti-social media activist, compared Douyin’s restrictions to “spinach” in contrast to the potentially harmful effects of TikTok.
Lawmakers and officials from both sides of the political spectrum argue that smartphones and the internet have contributed to issues such as alienation, loneliness, and other social problems among young people. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned about the “profound risk” technology poses to teenage mental health and the development of bad habits. A January survey by Common Sense Media revealed that younger users have reported exposure to adult content as early as 12 years old.
However, critics argue that the dangers to minors have been exaggerated and that social media platforms offer more benefits than risks. Civil liberties groups and some tech organizations also raise concerns that limitations on apps and platforms could infringe on free speech rights and create logistical challenges for internet usage.
Efforts in the United States
Lawmakers in the United States have taken steps towards implementing various rules and bans for social media targeted at teenagers. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) proposed the establishment of a minimum age for social media use by February 2023. The Kids Online Safety Act, introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), was approved by a Senate committee. This act would require platforms to take measures to prevent specific harms to minors and implement controls that allow parents to limit screen time, restrict addictive features, and control access to their teenager’s user profile.
Several states have also taken action. The Louisiana state legislature passed legislation in July that prohibits teenagers aged 16 or younger from creating new social media accounts. In March, Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) signed a law requiring teenagers to obtain parental consent before creating a social media account. Montana’s governor signed the first state TikTok ban into law in May.
As the debate continues, both China and the United States are grappling with the challenges of balancing the protection of minors with the preservation of free speech and the benefits of technology.
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