China: Issued CAC guidelines for mobile device manufacturers, application providers, and app distribution platforms regarding the Construction of Minor Mode of the Mobile Internet

On 15 November 2024, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued guidelines for mobile device manufacturers, application providers, and app distribution platforms to implement a Minor Mode to protect users under 16 and under 18. These guidelines, formulated under the Cybersecurity Law, Personal Information Protection Law, Law on the Protection of Minors, and Regulations on the Protection of Minors on the Internet, establish measures for usage time limits, content controls, and functional restrictions. The guide’s provisions include integrating systems across devices, apps, and platforms to enable synchronised activation of Minor Mode, default daily usage caps of one hour for users under 16 and two hours for those aged 16–18, and a prohibition on services between 10 PM and 6 AM. Age-appropriate content controls must be implemented, and features that may induce addiction must be limited. Parents retain the ability to manage or override these settings. Additionally, app distribution platforms must classify apps as age-appropriate, subjecting them to rigorous review processes to ensure compliance.