PART A.

BELOW IS AN EXTRACT FROM AN ARTICLE FROM AN INTERNATIONAL

NEWSPAPER

China is proposing new measures to curb the amount of time that kids and teens can
spend on their phones, as the country takes aim at internet addiction and tries to
cultivate “good morality” and “socialist values” among minors.

A proposal released by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top

internet regulator, last month would require all mobile devices, apps and app stores
to have a built in “minor mode” that would restrict daily screen time to a maximum of
two hours a day, depending on the age group.

The restrictions, if approved, would mark an expansion of existing measures rolled

out in recent years as Beijing aims to limit screen time among kids and reduce their
exposure to “undesirable information.”

Parents would be able to override time restrictions, and certain educational and
emergency services would not be subject to the time limits.

“Internet addiction” has emerged as a major social concern in recent years, giving
rise to an often scientifically dubious and at times dangerous industry of boot-camp
style treatment centers.

Your group needs to discuss the feasibility of this proposal.

• Should children and adults limit their use of mobile phones?

• Is two hours a day enough time to use these devices?
• Is it up to adults or internet providers to enforce these rules?

Part B
Individual Response

1. Do you think many or few people suffer from internet addiction?

2. How can we eliminate internet addiction?
3. Do you think bootcamps are an effective way to stop addiction?
4. Is the government right to limit peoples’ access to mobile phones?
5. Do you know someone that is addicted to their phone?
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/03/tech/china-minors-mobile-phone-limits-intl-
hnk/index.html

12 September 2023