Chinese regulators passed a new rule on Saturday that bans children under the age of 16 from tipping livestreams and watching after 10 p.m.
The Chinese government is no stranger to regulating what their citizens can do on the Internet and in real life, but their broadcast regulator dropped the ban hammer to kids. A new rule requires online streaming apps and platforms to bar minors from being able to tip streamers. The regulator also created another rule requiring streaming platforms to prevent minors from viewing livestreams after 10 p.m,
China's State Administration of Radio and Television proposed two new rules on Saturday that will forbid minors under the age of 16 from watching livestreams after 10 p.m. The other rule bans minors from buying gifts for or tipping streamers. Online livestreams have exploded in popularity in China in recent years, and it appears that the government believes that minors tipping streamers could be bad for their mental and physical health.
These regulations are likely to pass, giving the platforms time to implement these new limits on users under the age of 16, but some apps were ahead of the game like China's version of TikTok. Douyin, as it is called overseas, instituted a 40 minute limit per day for users under the age of 14.
China has quite a bit of work experience when it comes to banning things. The government banned Fortnite back in 2018, has issued many rules about online video games, and continues to flex their muscle when it comes to international releases of major motion pictures.
We hear rhetoric in America of various rules being the makings of a nanny state, but news like this really make me wonder what the Chinese government's next move will be to "protect the kids." Mandatory bedtimes?
Let us know what you think of China's State Administration of Radio and Television's new rules in the Shacknews Chatty comment thread below. We would love to hear your opinion.
Asif Khan is the Luminary and majority shareholder of Shacknews. He began his career in video game journalism as a freelancer in 2001 for Tendobox.com. Asif is a CPA and was formerly an investment adviser representative. After much success in his own personal investments, he retired from his day job in financial services and is currently focused on new private investments. His favorite PC game of all time is Duke Nukem 3D, and he is an unapologetic fan of most things Nintendo. Asif first frequented the Shack when it was sCary's Shugashack to find all things Quake. When he is not immersed in investments or gaming he is a purveyor of fine electronic music. Asif also has an irrational love of Cleveland sports.
