Future Android and iPhones Might Start Shipping with a ‘Minor Mode’

Increased smartphone usage among kids is something that has become an issue for a lot of people around the world. At the same time, some parents do try their best to ensure that their child is not spending as much time in front of the screen, but China wants to take it one step further as the country has decided to work towards creating a law that would prevent the over usage of smartphones. If passed, this law would be enforced on both Androids and iPhones, and we believe other devices, such as tablets as well, where a 'minor mode' will be implemented to prevent over-usage.

Chinese law could force Apple and Android manufacturers to find a way to prevent children from using their phones for over two hours

Again, this law is something that does sound easy to implement on a large scale but could have its own set of problems in the way. For instance, if you are legislating it on a macro level, then you have to consider the usage pattern for people. However, at the same time, Android manufacturers can easily implement such a feature, but then again, it will come down to whether or not the law passes.

If the law does pass, though. Kids will only be allowed two pers per day to use their phones. This means that children aged 16 and 17 will only be limited to 120 minutes. However, if you are under 15 and till 8, you will only be allowed to use your phone for 40 minutes total. It gets even more strict as the drafted rule states that all children will be barred from using phones between 10 PM and 6 AM. So, the late-night chats will no longer happen. The best way to make these restrictions work would be a minor mode. We are not sure how that would be implemented. Will the parents have access to it, the government, or will there be some internal setting that puts it on an Android or an iPhone?

A lot of things are unclear at the moment, but we will keep you posted as more details come forward. I have seen modes in smartphones in the past where you can enable a mode, and it creates a sandbox within the device, but what the Chinese government is proposing looks a lot more serious. I do understand the need to curb the usage, but it does feel a lot more strict than it should be. Still, it hasn't passed at the moment, and we are waiting to see how it turns out. If it goes through, we will be sure to keep you posted.

Do you think such a law should exist outside China as well, and how would smartphone manufacturers react to it? Let us know your thoughts below.

Source: CNBC

Written by Furqan Shahid