China's Minor Internet Users Reach 198 Million with 78.5% Adoption of AI Tools
According to a youth development report released in China, the country's minor internet user population has reached 198 million, representing an internet penetration rate of 98.3%. Furthermore, 78.5% of surveyed minors reported using AI tools for learning, content creation, or entertainment. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence among younger demographics underscores how AI is transforming education and youth daily lives. However, widespread usage paired with insufficient critical awareness raises urgent concerns regarding digital literacy, misinformation, and ethical AI governance in schools. The survey noted that the urban-rural gap in internet penetration among minors has narrowed to just 0.4 percentage points. Despite high usage, 83% of surveyed teachers expressed concern over AI misuse, citing students' limited ability to identify AI-generated content, detect algorithmic bias, or navigate ethical boundaries.
## BACKGROUND
AI literacy refers to an individual's skills and mindset to effectively use, evaluate, and comprehend artificial intelligence technologies and their ethical implications. Algorithmic bias occurs when machine learning systems produce systematically unfair outcomes due to unrepresentative training data or flawed algorithm design.