China consults on State Council rules for minors online, above NRTA Order 16

The Cyberspace Administration of China published draft Provisions on Safeguarding Minors' Healthy and Safe Use of the Internet (国务院关于保障未成年人健康安全使用网络的规定) for public comment on 18 September 2026. Comments close on 17 October 2026.

The draft is an administrative regulation at State Council level, a tier above a departmental rule such as NRTA Order No. 16. It runs to 25 articles, repeals nothing, and preserves the 2023 Regulations on the Protection of Minors Online. Article 25 leaves the commencement date blank.

The terms for micro short drama, 短剧 and 微短剧, do not appear in the text. Two provisions nonetheless reach vertical-drama applications. Article 5 requires online audio-video services to be delivered to users under 16 through a minor mode. Article 8 prohibits algorithm models that induce emotional dependence, addiction or excessive consumption, and requires algorithm-mechanism audits and technology-ethics review.

Article 6 sets out age-identification methods including one-time facial verification that is not stored. Article 10 places obligations on application distribution platforms to assess age-appropriateness and restrict downloads. Article 12 requires filing of minor-mode arrangements, with national-level filing and annual verification for platforms with large numbers of minor users. Article 18 provides for fines of one to ten times illegal gains above 1m yuan, and, in serious cases, closure of the website or application.