(Yicai Global) April 7 -- Popular mobile apps and websites should develop a separate version that is easier to use by senior citizens, such as by including extra-large fonts and banning pop-up ads, as part of China’s drive to help the elderly make better use of smart technology, according to a document released today by the country's industry watchdog.

On the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s list were some of China’s biggest internet-based firms, including e-retailers JD.com, Pinduoduo, Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao and Meituan, online travel platforms Trip.com and Dingdang Kuaiyao, essential services such as China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom and information service providers Tencent News and Weibo.

They should develop websites and apps that offer senior citizens zoom-in functions and extra large fonts and cursors that are independent of the web browser and operating system, it said. Random pop-up ads and plug-ins must be banned.

Those specially adapted websites and apps that pass the regulators’ review will be given a two-year ‘barrier-free’ certification, it added.

Editor: Kim Taylor