Shanghai Regulators Direct Top Tech Platforms to Address Seven Minor Mental Health Risks

Shanghai's Cyberspace Administration instructed 17 major internet platforms, including Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, and Pinduoduo, to proactively mitigate seven psychological health risks facing minors. The directive requires platforms to shift from reactive moderation to preventative measures by adjusting algorithms, improving Youth Modes, and strictly regulating AI features. This initiative highlights growing regulatory scrutiny in China regarding how algorithmic recommendations, social platforms, and generative AI affect young users' mental health. It forces major digital companies to redesign user safety mechanisms and content delivery algorithms to prioritize minor protection. The seven targeted risk areas cover internet addiction, cyberbullying, body anxiety, self-harm content, social isolation, negative values, and AI-derived harms such as face-swapping and emotional manipulation via virtual personas. Regulators mandated strict routine audits, better identification of high-risk content, and enhanced legal enforcement against non-compliant platforms.