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IGF 2024 Lightning Talk #29 Diagnosing the final barriers in protecting minors online

    China Internet Network Information Center
    Chen Jingjing- China Internet Network Information Center - Technical Community - Asia & Pacific JIANG, Xitao - China Internet Network Information Center - Technical Community - Asia & Pacific

    Speakers

    Jiang Xitao - China Internet Network Information Center - Technical Community - Asia & Pacific

    Onsite Moderator

    Chen Jingjing

    Rapporteur

    JIANG, Xitao

    SDGs

    9.c

    Targets: Echoing Article C of Goal 9 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the project aims to promote accessibility to information and communication technologies (ICTs). It has conducted meaningful research into how minors can use the new generation of ICTs more fairly and safely. The project has provided a positive cycle for mobilizing proactive actions from various stakeholders, including civil society, youth groups and their families, educators, governments, and online platforms. Simple methods and a relatively controllable budget have enabled the research to extend to new communities where schools are willing to participate in the survey. The project's continuity over five years has provided breadth and timeliness for support group comparisons and trend analysis. Due to the cross-border nature of online platforms, the research results based on the Chinese market offer references for other countries and regions.

    Format

    Lightning Talk Format - Classroom

    Duration (minutes)
    20
    Description

    As of 2022, over 97% of minors in China use the internet. Major platforms have launched dedicated features to prevent urgent issues such as internet addiction among minors. To bridge the "last mile" of these features, enabling young people, families, and schools to use them correctly and consciously, the China Internet Network Information Center has organized systematic research to understand young internet users, aiming for positive social attention, policy improvement, and platform optimization. This study is based on annual surveys since 2018 of over 100,000 primary and secondary school students nationwide, their parents, and hundreds of teachers. The project helps society understand the situation and challenges of online protection for minors, promotes improvement of protective measures, and helps youth, families, and schools build confidence in using ICT. Through surveys, the project received effective feedback. Policy-wise, it provided useful assistance in revising the "Regulations on the Protection of Minors Online" regarding cyberbullying, privacy protection, and internet addiction, sparking social discussions. Commercially, it guided platforms like Tencent to introduce features addressing gaming, live streaming, and short video addiction in youth, along with privacy protection and mechanisms to prevent excessive online spending. Socially, the proportion of surveyed students free from any cybersecurity incidents in the past year rose from 66.0% in 2019 to 72.4% in 2022; the proportion of students aware of online rights protection and reporting increased from 69.1% in 2018 to 78.9% in 2022.

    This is a Lightning Talk without online sector, not a hybrid meeting.