January 1, China cracks down on teen use of social media, video games

China implemented several limitations to youth’s consumption of social media content and video games this year.

Douyin, an app referred to as the “Chinese TikTok,” faced criticism for presenting stressful material to minors. In April, the company added a “youth mode,” which limits users under 18 to 40 minutes of videos, and the app is restricted between 10 pm and 6 am.

Late last month, China imposed restrictions on video games. Young users can only play games from 8-9 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The nation’s authorities argue that youth mode features don’t fix the problem and press companies to go further.

Data shows that Chinese users top the list of time spent on mobile apps during the first quarter of 2021.

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China moves to limit social media, gaming as teens get more addicted and mental health is impacted