China bans education apps to save small children from smartphone addiction

China’s education authorities are cracking down on private tutors. In this sequence, those new education apps which focus on pre-school children have been banned in the country. Action is being taken to remove the existing apps also. According to media reports, these steps are being taken by Chinese authorities to limit children’s screen time and reduce smartphone addiction. Especially those mobile apps which target pre-school going children are being banned.

According to a news agency report, in order to improve education quality, in July last year, Chinese authorities had announced a ban on profit-making tuition services. Private tuition has been banned in China. This has dealt a huge blow to the private education sector, whose value is $ 120 billion (about Rs 9,28,630 crore). China hopes to see improvement in this area soon. He believes that capitalism has taken over the private tuition sector.

According to the new rules, the apps which are targeting older students will also have to avoid any negative information. Such apps will not have to include gaming links or advertisements on their platforms. These rules came into effect in China in February itself and now action is being taken against those who are violating the rules.

Asia Financial said that due to China’s move, New York-listed Chinese tutoring firm New Oriental Education and Technology Group has cut its workforce by 60,000. Its shares have also fallen drastically. Last year, regulations were imposed in China regarding many sectors, among them the private tuition sector was also included. Due to the ban on private tuitions, this sector in China has suffered a huge blow of 120 billion dollars (about Rs 9,28,630 crore).

Reports say that Chinese private education firms will no longer be able to launch their IPO and will also not be able to hire foreign teachers.