With this document, which has been opened for public consultation, the CAC seeks to strengthen the online protection of these users, as well as to implement healthy habits on the Internet, establishing for this purpose a series of rules designed to build models of internet use by minors.

Thus, this framework of 'Guidelines for Building Mobile Internet Models for Children' should be embraced by mobile providers as well as all applications and platforms for application distribution services for minors.

Broadly speaking, this project includes, on the one hand, the maximum time that minors should use their 'smartphones', the type of content that should be offered to them according to the years they have, as well as the way parents and guardians should manage the contents that children and adolescents access.

First, the text states that "smart mobile terminals, applications and application distribution platforms should provide users of different ages with adequate information and services for their physical and mental development".

Thus, it establishes five age groups over which these guidelines revolve: under 3 years old, over 3 years old but under 8 years old, over 8 years old, but under 12 years old; over 12 years old but under 16 years old and finally over 16 years old, but under 18 years old.

The CAC indicates that every terminal must have access to a specific mode for children, either as a reminder at the time of ignition of the terminal, either via a desktop icon or with pre-established device configuration.

This access to the mode for minors "must guarantee the principle of simplicity", while leaving it must be supervised by parents or guardians. Smartphones must also provide time management services for underage users of different age groups.

Hence, in this mode for children under 8 years of age should have a limitation of use time of not more than 40 minutes a day. Those over this age and up to 16, on the other hand, should have a system that limits its use to no more than an hour. Those over the age of 16, but under the age of 18, should therefore allow a predetermined total use time of up to two hours.

This document also states that, when this mode is enabled for minors, the terminal must have a notification telling the user that it has been used for more than 30 minutes and that a rest should be taken.

In addition, smartphones with this system should also be prohibited from serving minors from 22.00 to 6.00 hours the following day.

Limitless applications and recommendations

This project also determines that there are applications exempt from these time constraints, such as those that are part of the emergency category, i.e. emergency call services or applications intended to protect the safety of minors.

Educational services, such as online courses for minors, are also free from these limitations, as well as tools for the physical and mental development of minors, calculation and measurement applications, etc.

On the other hand, the CAC introduces content recommendations to users according to age, so that those under 3 years of age should receive content providers recommendations for songs, while those over 3 and under 8 should have access to enlightened education.

Those over the age of eight, but under the age of 12, would have greater access to educational resources and scientific knowledge. Older adults and up to 16 should receive recommendations related to the dissemination of knowledge and skills for life.

As for those over the age of 16, but under the age of 18, the project only indicates that it is appropriate to "recommend appropriate information to the cognitive and healthy capacity of this age group".

Prohibitions

This document also refers in one of its sections to the type of content and legal actions of the providers of these contents, as well as what are prohibited when it comes to minor users with access to the devices.

First of all, it is said that internet information service providers must "actively" produce, copy, publish and disseminate core socialist values and traditional Chinese culture.

On the contrary, "there should be no way to provide minors with related products and services that are addictive or harmful to their physical and mental health.

It is also prohibited to use the internet to send information to these minors containing harmful content, as well as to copy, publish or disseminate pornographic 'online' files or videos and images that may expose their personal privacy.

Finally, the Chinese Cyberspace administration clarifies that it is forbidden to produce, copy, publish and disseminate information that may cause or induce minors to imitate unsafe behaviors, that violate social morals, that generate bad emotions and develop bad habits that may affect physical and mental health.