China’s internet regulator has ordered over two dozen online platforms to introduce a “teenage anti-addiction mode” to prevent addiction among young users, according to a statement Monday.

The Cyberspace Administration of China said 24 livestreaming platforms and nine video platforms have started offering the feature, which imposes age restrictions and limits screen time for children and teens, while also prohibiting them from tipping livestreamers.

In March, the administration started a pilot program under which popular short-video platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, and Huoshan were ordered to add the teenager anti-addiction mode, and streaming sites including Bilibili, Tencent Video, and iQiyi followed suit in May.

As China’s online video industry has continued to grow, it has also sparked concerns over increasing addiction and money-management issues among children. In 2017, a 14-year-old boy from the southwestern Sichuan province reportedly spent his parents’ life savings to shower a livestreamer with virtual gifts. And last year, a 10-year-old boy in central China’s Henan province spent 50,000 yuan ($7,900) — money that was intended for his father’s funeral — to reward a gamer on Kuaishou. (Image: IC)