THERE is some irony in the news that China, the country behind every teen’s favourite social media app, is set to put time limits on the smartphones of its youngsters.
Under radical new proposed rules, eight to 16-year-olds would get up to one hour of screen time per day, while 16 to 18-year-olds would be restricted to just two hours.
The plans require smartphones to have a “minor mode” which bars children from using their phones between 10pm and 6am, in an attempt to make the internet a safer and less addictive environment for kids.
You could be forgiven for raising a wry smile that this move comes from the country that gave us TikTok, which consistently polls as the social media site teens love most.
China is also the leading exporter of smartphones.