China Drafts Rules Barring Minors from Virtual Companions and Stranger Social Apps

China’s top internet regulator has published draft State Council regulations aimed at strengthening online protections for minors. Issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China for public feedback through October 17, 2026, the proposed framework bans digital platforms from providing virtual intimate relationship services, such as virtual companions, to minors. It also bars platforms from offering stranger-focused social networking to youth and prohibits children under 16 from broadcasting livestreams, while mandating algorithmic audits to curb digital addiction and emotional reliance.

The proposed State Council regulations elevate minor internet protections into a unified administrative framework, targeting emerging consumer technologies such as AI companions and algorithmic engagement. By banning virtual intimate relationships and stranger networking for minors while mandating minors mode across platforms and smart devices, the rules create stringent product design and compliance obligations for social media, gaming, and generative artificial intelligence companies operating in China.

China's cyberspace authorities have unveiled a comprehensive draft administrative regulation governing how minors use the internet, introducing explicit bans on virtual intimacy services and setting tighter boundaries on social networking, livestreaming, and algorithmic recommendation. The Cyberspace Administration of China released the draft measure, titled the Regulations of the State Council on Safeguarding Minors' Healthy and Safe Use of the Internet, on September 18, 2026, opening a one-month public consultation window that runs until October 17, 2026. The draft is formulated under existing national statutes, including the Minor Protection Law, the Cybersecurity Law, and the Personal Information Protection Law. Under the proposed rules, online service providers are barred from offering specific categories of products to minors. Most notably, platforms may not provide virtual intimate relationship services, such as virtual companions or virtual relatives, addressing the rapid proliferation of conversational artificial intelligence agents and simulated social applications. Providers are also prohibited from offering stranger-focused online social services to minors, except for those aged 16 and above whose primary source of living comes from their own labor income. The regulation also introduces age-delineated restrictions for content creators. Online service providers may not offer livestream hosting services to minors under the age of 16. Furthermore, platforms must deliver online audio, video, online gaming, and core social networking functions—including microblogs, forums, groups, moments, and direct messaging—to users under 16 exclusively through a dedicated "minor mode." Beyond application-level curbs, the draft places direct compliance obligations on smart terminal manufacturers and application distribution channels. The regulation encourages supply chain collaboration to develop dedicated hardware tailored to minors and requires app stores and manufacturers to support standardized minor modes. Platforms must also establish mechanisms to identify minor users while protecting their personal data. Algorithmic governance forms a central pillar of the draft. Platforms are required to audit algorithm mechanisms and are explicitly barred from deploying models designed to foster emotional dependence, excessive screen time, or compulsive spending among underage users.