(Yicai Global) March 28 -- China's central internet regulator will pilot a system that will limit the time that users of short video platforms, including TikTok, Kuaishou, Huoshan, can spend streaming. 

The Cyberspace Administration of China's pilot suggests that adolescent users should choose a teenager mode upon logging in, and after this, the system will limit some service functions and kick the user out after the time runs out, the regulator said in a statement today, without specifying the time period. The system will be expanded across the sector in June. 

The program can analyze the status and location of a user and turn on the teenager mode if it seems like the person's parents are not around to monitor the situation. 

The scale of short video platform users has reached 648 million by the end of 2018, the CAC said in the report, citing data released by state-backed China Internet Network Information Center. Most users are teenagers, which has triggered worries about addiction among parents as well as all levels of the society, the CAC added. 

Chinese game developers, including Tencent Holdings, have faced similar government restrictions since last year. Players of Tencent's popular King of Glory mobile game, for example, are forced to log out every two hours in order to take a break. 

The CAC hopes that internet companies will earnestly fulfill their social responsibilities and that the community will work together, especially with schools, parents and students, so that the anti-addiction work will put forth good social effects, a person in charge at the CAC said.

Editor: Emmi Laine