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Chinese regulators have recently proposed new rules aimed at limiting smartphone screen time for individuals under the age of 18 to a maximum of two hours per day. These radical draft rules, put forth by the influential Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), demonstrate Beijing’s strong desire to gain control over various aspects of the country’s digital landscape. If these regulations are implemented, they could potentially have significant consequences for major tech companies operating in China, such as Tencent and ByteDance, which manage some of the country’s largest mobile apps.

The primary objective of the CAC’s draft rules is to curb and prevent addiction among individuals under the age of 18, particularly concerning mobile apps and smartphones. In 2021, China had already introduced regulations restricting teenagers under 18 from playing online video games for more than three hours per week. Now, with these proposed rules, Chinese authorities are expanding their efforts to mitigate addiction further.

To enforce these regulations, the CAC’s draft rules mandate the inclusion of a “minor mode” on smartphones designed specifically for individuals under the age of 18. This minor mode should be easily accessible upon device startup, either through a home screen icon or within the system settings. The minor mode grants parents the ability to manage their children’s digital activities and enables internet service providers to deliver content based on the user’s age. For example, children under three years old should primarily have access to songs and audio-focused content, while those between the ages of 12 and 16 can be exposed to educational and news-related material.

The CAC has also warned online companies against offering services that may induce addiction or negatively impact the physical and mental well-being of young users. To ensure compliance, the draft rules divide children into different age brackets, each subjected to specific restrictions. Children under eight should be limited to a maximum of 40 minutes per day on their smartphones, while those between eight and 16 years old can use their devices for no more than one hour per day. Teenagers aged 16 and 17 are allowed a maximum of two hours of smartphone usage per day. Additionally, handsets should not provide any services to children from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day, as stipulated in the draft regulations. However, regulated education products and emergency service applications are exempt from these time restrictions.

Importantly, parents must verify any attempts to remove a device from minor mode, ensuring that children cannot bypass these limitations easily. While China’s rules are still being reviewed and open for public consultation, their potential impact on the country’s technology giants remains uncertain. Implementing the minor mode software and enforcing these time limits pose logistical challenges that need further consideration. The responsibility to create this minor mode might fall on operating system providers or device manufacturers, potentially placing the burden on companies like Apple to develop new features specific to iPhones in China. Additionally, monitoring compliance with the time limits and minor mode software will require clarification on the CAC’s approach.

Throughout the legislative process, major tech players operating in China, including Apple, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Baidu, will closely monitor the situation. Two years ago, when China imposed restrictions on gaming time for young individuals, online gaming companies Tencent and NetEase reported that users under 18 accounted for only a small fraction of their overall revenue. Nevertheless, the potential ramifications of these new rules warrant close attention from industry leaders.

In this context, the AI legalese decoder can play a significant role in facilitating compliance with the proposed regulations. This AI-powered solution can assist smartphone manufacturers and operating system providers in developing and integrating the required minor mode software into their devices. The decoder can analyze and interpret legal language, simplifying the process of identifying the specific features and functionalities needed to meet the regulatory requirements. By leveraging AI technology, companies can streamline the implementation of the minor mode and ensure that it effectively assists parents in managing their children’s smartphone usage while aligning with the CAC’s guidelines.

Furthermore, the AI legalese decoder can aid internet service providers in determining the appropriate content to display based on user age. By analyzing vast amounts of data, this solution can categorize and filter content, effectively aligning with the CAC’s recommendations for different age groups. This not only supports compliance but also enables service providers to deliver tailored experiences that prioritize user safety and well-being.

As China’s regulations progress and evolve, the AI legalese decoder remains a valuable tool in assisting companies in understanding and meeting their legal obligations. This AI-enabled solution can help navigate the complexities of compliance, ensuring that technology giants operating in China remain aligned with regulatory requirements as they continue to provide innovative digital experiences for users of all ages.

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