Vulgar content can still be found! Is the App's "Teen Mode" just for show?

How effective is the anti-addiction "teenage mode" of Internet apps? Recently, the reporter selected ten apps involving Internet live broadcast, video playback, games, social networking and other content forms, including Douyin, Kuaishou, iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku, Douyu, Huya, Bilibili, WeChat, and Weibo for actual testing.

The results show that all ten Internet apps have launched "teenage mode" or set threshold permissions for minors. However, in actual operation, the protection of minors by each platform varies. For example, in the "teenage mode" of WeChat App, vulgar content can still be searched on its video account, and iQiyi's "iQiyi Suike" App has not launched "teenage mode".

In addition, Internet apps have different ways to exit or cancel the "teen mode". Some apps only require you to enter the "teen mode" setting password to exit easily, or you can click "forgot password" to verify the account via SMS to exit.

Some apps’ “teen mode” still has vulgar content

Since the State Internet Information Office took the lead in launching the "Youth Anti-Addiction System" on Internet short video platforms and live broadcast platforms in 2019, many Internet content apps have successively launched "Youth Mode" to regulate the usage time, duration, functions and browsing content of minors.

The newly revised "Law on the Protection of Minors" and "Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency", which came into effect on June 1 this year, also clearly stipulate that providers of Internet services such as online games, online live broadcasts, online audio and video, and online social networking should set up corresponding time management, permission management, consumption management and other functions for minors' use of their services.

After actual testing, it was found that although the ten apps involved different forms of online content, they all had launched systems related to the "Youth Mode", which restricted usage time, live broadcasting, recharge and reward, etc. For example, in the Youth Mode, Douyin and Kuaishou apps are prohibited from being used from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and users need to enter a password to continue using them if the daily browsing volume exceeds 40 minutes. They are also unable to use private messaging, live broadcasting, recharge, reward, withdrawal and other functions.

However, WeChat App and other apps still have loopholes in "teen mode". In WeChat App's "teen mode", the video account can search for vulgar content and link to the game service account to download and install games. Even typing "mariguana" (cannabis) in the video account search bar will show videos related to suspected marijuana smoking.

In actual testing, it was also found that although iQiyi Video has launched the "Teen Mode", its "iQiyi Suike" App has not launched the "Teen Mode" and can recommend vulgar content, and has not regulated the use behavior of minors.

There are different ways to exit the "teen mode" of apps

After the above ten Internet apps set up "teenage mode", minors' online use behavior has been regulated. However, if minors want to exit or cancel the "teenage mode", the operation methods required by each app are different.

Specifically, the exit methods for TikTok, Kuaishou, Huya, WeChat, Bilibili, Weibo, etc. are relatively simple. These apps only require you to enter the password when setting the "Youth Mode" for your account to exit or cancel the setting directly, and the operation process is relatively simple.

On the iQiyi App, if you want to exit the "Child Mode", just do the calculations accurately; when exiting the "Teen Mode" on the Douyin App and Weibo App, you need to fill in the real name and ID number of the registered account.

If a minor does not know the account registration password when exiting or canceling the "Teen Mode", there will be corresponding methods to proceed.

Specifically, if you "forget your password" when exiting or canceling the "teen mode" on Bilibili, Tencent Video, or Youku Video, you need to send an email to a designated mailbox, and you also need to include a picture of the account registrant holding his or her ID card and handwritten instructions in the email or uploaded picture, which is not a simple operation. On the Kuaishou App, minors can click "forgot password" and enter their account phone number to get a text message verification code to exit or cancel the "teen mode"; on the WeChat App, minors need to reset their password before exiting or canceling the setting.

Platforms cannot shirk their responsibilities and all parties in society must jointly manage

The discussion on regulating the online behavior of minors by Internet platforms has been going on for a long time, and regulatory authorities are constantly improving relevant laws and regulations and increasing governance and crackdown efforts. In the "New Wind 2021" concentrated action arranged and deployed by the National Office for Combating Pornography and Illegal Publications, "deep cleaning of harmful online content that is misleading to minors" and "urging online platforms to implement the 'youth mode'" are important contents of the "Protecting Young 2021" special action.

The newly revised "Minor Protection Law" came into effect on June 1. The Internet Protection Chapter stipulates that online game service providers shall not provide online game services to minors from 22:00 to 8:00 the next day. Online live broadcast service providers shall not provide online live broadcast publisher account registration services for minors under the age of 16; when providing online live broadcast publisher account registration services for minors over the age of 16, their identity information shall be authenticated and the consent of their parents or other guardians shall be obtained.

Zhu Wei, deputy director and professor of the Communication Law Research Center of China University of Political Science and Law, said in an interview with reporters that after the implementation of the newly revised "Law on the Protection of Minors", the implementation of the "Youth Mode" by Internet platforms is not only a manifestation of social and moral responsibility, but also a legal requirement. If there are loopholes, it means that the Internet platform has not implemented this work in a detailed and reliable manner, and it is necessary to strengthen the review and improve the accuracy of identifying young users.

Zhao Liangshan, senior partner and lawyer of Shaanxi Hengda Law Firm, said in an interview with reporters that according to the newly revised "Law on the Protection of Minors" implemented on June 1 and relevant notices on preventing minors from becoming addicted to the Internet, the "youth mode" set up in Internet apps should play a role in content filtering, review, and screening, blocking online content that may contain pornography, violence, insults, defamation, and violence, and ensuring that the online content that minors are exposed to meets the growth needs of minors.

Zhao Liangshan analyzed that according to Article 66 and Article 79 of the Law on the Protection of Minors, Internet apps involving pornographic content not only affect the physical and mental health of minors, but also may be suspected of spreading obscene materials and face public security penalties, or may be suspected of criminal offenses or be held criminally liable. Any organization or individual who finds that online products and services contain information that is harmful to the physical and mental health of minors has the right to complain or report to the providers of online products and services or to the Internet Information Office, the Public Security Bureau and other departments.

Zhu Wei believes that Internet platforms should regulate the online behavior of minors through joint management and governance by multiple parties in society. Regulatory agencies should strengthen the crackdown on illegal behaviors of Internet platforms. Parents and guardians, as the "first responsible persons" for minors' online use, should guide minors to arrange their online time reasonably in their daily lives and strengthen supervision and guidance of minors' online behavior.

Zhao Liangshan suggested that network operators should strengthen the technical settings of software such as apps, and only operate them after testing, reporting and inspecting the operating software; strengthen the supervision and review of network software content by regulatory departments such as culture and Internet information, to ensure that software used by minors is qualified and the content is legal; it is also necessary to further formulate and improve the implementation rules of relevant laws, clarify the law enforcement authority and punishment responsibilities in various situations, and implement the supervisory responsibilities of various supervisory entities.