China wants to cut time minors spend watching live streams in its continuing fight against online addiction

Chinese regulators want to spread anti-addiction laws that already apply to video games across live streaming and other online services. It would result in limiting the time and spend for underage users.

The Cyberspace Administration of China issued draft regulations on March 14, according to Reuters. The proposed restrictions will affect companies engaged in live streaming, audio and video content.

Platforms providing such services should protect minors and provide a “clean online environment” for them, the regulator noted. These companies also should limit the daily time and spend for underage users.

Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and some other companies have already added a special youth mode for users under 18. Now the Cyberspace Administration wants all platforms to impose similar measures.

In 2021, Chinese authorities made game companies cut playtime that minors spend in online titles to only three hours a week. Last week, the country’s major political bodies proposed even tougher measures, including holding parents of game-addicted children accountable and banning online games for underage players completely.