A sign above an office of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is seen in Beijing, China. Reuters

The government of China’s decision to launch an online crackdown on harmful content targeting children is a highly praiseworthy step, but is it possible to stop the traffic of harmful online content is a big question (“China launches online crackdown on ‘harmful’ content targeting children,” July 13, Gulf Today website).

According to the report, the ruling Communist Party strictly regulates the domestic web, censoring content deemed vulgar, ostentatious or politically subversive. It has periodically clamped down on specific sectors, from online influencers to gaming and shopping platforms. In a statement, the country’s internet watchdog said it was launching a two-month “Clear and Bright” campaign “to effectively strengthen the protection of minors on the internet and create a healthier environment”.

I feel that in the world of Information Technology, it’s a huge responsibility of mobile companies to introduce smart mobiles which have built-in systems to keep children away from harmful online content. There should be separately designed and programmed smart phones for children where they don’t have excess harmful content, because in the fastest growing IT world it’s impossible to control, censoring content deemed vulgar, which harms the mental ability and destroys the future of children.

Kashif Usman,

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