China: Cyberspace Administration issued classification measures for online information that may affect the physical and mental health of minors

On 23 January 2026, the Cyberspace Administration of China and seven other ministries issued the classification measures for online information that may affect the physical and mental health of minors. The measures establish a regulatory framework to identify, classify, and manage lawful online information that may negatively influence minors’ physical or mental health, complementing existing Laws on Minors’ Protection, Cybersecurity, and Personal Information Protection. They define such information as lawful online content that may induce unsafe behaviour, social misconduct, extreme emotional responses, or unhealthy habits, while excluding illegal content already regulated under other legislation. The measures set categories of content considered potentially harmful to minors, including content that encourages misconduct or high-risk imitation, cyberbullying, discrimination, extreme emotional stimulation, unsafe activities, unhealthy lifestyles, academic misconduct, irrational fan culture or consumption, and the provision of inappropriate services to minors. It also covers content that promotes negative or distorted values, pseudoscience, unhealthy attitudes toward education, relationships, or social norms, as well as the improper use of minors’ images, voices, or participation for attention or profit. Separate provisions address the improper disclosure or use of minors’ personal information, particularly where consent is lacking, or minors are induced to disclose such information themselves. The measures require online content producers and online product and service providers to adopt preventive and mitigating measures to reduce minors’ exposure to such content. Where such information is created or disseminated, prominent notices must be displayed in advance, using appropriate visual, audio, or interface-based prompts depending on the content format and service scenario. Platforms are prohibited from featuring such content in prominent or traffic-driving positions, including homepages, recommendations, hot searches, or pop-ups, and providers of algorithmic recommendation systems and generative artificial intelligence must ensure that such content is not pushed to users. Content that may affect minors’ physical or mental health may not be created or disseminated in online products and services specifically designed for minors. The classification measures will enter into force on 1 March 2026.