According to the 52nd "Statistical Report on the Development of China's Internet Network" released by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), as of June this year, the number of Internet users in China reached 6.10 billion, of which 79.10% and 10.19% were under the age of 3 and 8-13 years old, respectively, and the number of young Internet users was nearly 9 million.
Strengthening the online protection of minors has become a national action. The Regulations on the Protection of Minors Online (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") promulgated by the State Council will come into force on January 2024, 1, which is China's first comprehensive legislation specifically for the protection of minors online.
Tong Lihua, director of the Beijing Juvenile Legal Aid and Research Center, believes that the protection of minors online involves various aspects such as the government, schools, families, and enterprises, and only through the joint efforts of all parties can the problem be effectively solved.
Tong Lihua pointed out that platform enterprises play an important role in the protection of minors online, and the "Regulations" stipulate several very specific provisions, such as Article 20, which requires "regular assessment of the impact of minors' online protection" and "annual publication of a special report on the social responsibility of minors' online protection"; Article 37 requires that "personal information handlers shall, on their own or by retaining a professional body, conduct annual compliance audits of their handling of minors' personal information in compliance with laws and administrative regulations, and promptly report the audit to departments such as for internet information"; Article 42 requires that "providers of online products and services shall establish and complete systems for preventing addiction, must not provide minors with products and services that induce them to become addicted, promptly revise content, functions, and rules that might cause minors to become addicted, and annually announce the situation of anti-addiction efforts to the public, and accept social oversight."
Since the special action of "Clear and Clear, Internet Anger Rectification", major platforms have begun to take relevant actions. According to the Weibo report, 27 "Internet Toilet" accounts have been closed, focusing on the management of paid scolding, malicious reporting, mutual abuse and other violations, and a total of more than 2,3 illegal content has been cleaned up. Kuaishou said that in order to control behaviors such as "network toilets" and "opening boxes and hanging people", 361 illegal accounts have been disposed of.
Sun Hongyan, a researcher at the China Youth Research Center, believes that some minors lack a sense of security in real life, and their pent-up anxiety and other negative emotions will look for some hidden channels such as "Internet toilets" and "opening boxes and hanging people" to alleviate, "The problems of the online world are closely related to real life, and the impact of Internet violence on minors needs to be paid enough attention."
Adolescents are more likely to have emotional and psychological problems. Based on scientific sampling, Sun Hongyan's team conducted a survey of children and adolescents in 10 provinces in different regions of the country, and found that three adults felt depressed and anxious from time to time. Correspondingly, in their previous surveys of children and teenagers, the first topic of "what parents care about you most" has always been "Xi academic performance", and the last one is "making friends and emotional changes".
In Sun Hongyan's view, it is very important to provide teenagers with a "tree hole" that combines online and offline to relieve psychological problems. "First of all, we have to solve their psychological and emotional problems, if teenagers don't have major problems psychologically and emotionally, they usually don't seek to vent their inner unhappiness through some shady channels."
"A lot of parents don't want their children to be exposed to the internet and keep it secret, which can cause bigger problems." Sun Hongyan believes that for the protection of minors online, a "development perspective" should be used, parents and schools should fully respect the subjectivity of minors, and carry out effective guidance, to create a good experience and opportunities for minors in the online world, "Minors themselves have a strong creativity and plasticity, parents, teachers and schools can discuss these issues with them together, so that they can distinguish between right and wrong, avoid network risks, and jointly create a healthy Internet culture in line with the characteristics of minors."
China Youth Daily • China Youth Network Xi Reporter Liu Yinheng Reporter Cui Li Source: China Youth Daily