Classification system for internet content can better protect children

A reader scans QR code on a newspaper in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan province, August 10, 2016. [Photo/IC]

The latest data from the China Internet Network Information Center show that the number of people with access to the internet in China was 710 million in June. Of them, 23 percent are below the age of 19, while 20.6 million are below the age of 10. A comment on Guangzhou Daily calls for a classification system for websites so as to better protect minors:

There used to be a time when the internet was considered harmful to children, so adults simply banned their children from surfing the internet. Yet this is no longer practical today, because the idea of demonizing the internet is no longer trusted by people.

If someone were to say "the internet is evil", it might have been applauded 15 years ago, but now people will laugh at such a statement.

More importantly, many, if not most, adults are busy surfing the internet too. If they simply forbid their children from accessing the web, no child will obey such an order.

Only with joint efforts can the negative effects of the internet on children be minimized. For example, content producers should classify their content so that the parents can recognize which parts are suitable for their children and which parts are not; schools should teach children to avoid the unsuitable content and why.

More importantly, the legislature needs to do its job and introduce a classification system for internet content, clearly labeling which content is suitable for what ages.

Internet content producers include not only websites, but also video games. Video games appeal to both adults and children, but some video games contain violence and/or sexual content that should be prohibited to minors. With a good, proper classification system, video games will better serve various groups of players.

In a previous survey conducted by China Youth Daily, 72.4 percent of the 1,718 respondents expressed their support for an internet classification system.

In order to better protect minors from harmful information on the internet, it is time for China to introduce a classification system for internet and video game content.