The Cyberspace Administration of China launches applications for the identification of online platforms for minors; platforms meeting the criteria must submit materials within 20 working days.

On October 19, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Announcement on Launching the Identification Work for Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups. It stated that online platform service providers meeting the criteria of "a huge number of minor users" or "significant influence on minor groups" must submit paper and electronic application materials to provincial cyberspace administration departments within 20 working days from the date of the notice's issuance. Platforms that meet the criteria but fail to proactively apply will be notified to submit within a specified period, and enterprises must be responsible for the authenticity, completeness, and accuracy of their self-assessment reports and materials. The original text is as follows: Announcement on Launching the Identification Work for Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups To further strengthen online protection for minors and consolidate the primary responsibilities of online platforms, in accordance with the Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace, the Measures for the Identification of Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups, and other relevant requirements, the identification work is hereby launched. Online platform service providers shall proactively conduct self-assessments and submit application materials in accordance with the identification standards and procedural requirements. Contact information, the list of application materials, and specific requirements are detailed in the attachment. Attachment: Guidelines for the Identification Work for Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups Cyberspace Administration of China October 16, 2026 Guidelines for the Identification Work for Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups The Measures for the Identification of Online Platform Service Providers with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups (hereinafter referred to as the Identification Measures) came into effect on April 1, 2026. These Guidelines are specially formulated to guide and assist online platform service providers in conducting application work in a standardized and orderly manner. I. Scope of Application According to Articles 6 and 7 of the Identification Measures, online platform service providers meeting the following circumstances shall proactively and promptly submit application materials: (I) To be identified as an online platform service provider with a huge number of minor users, one of the following conditions shall be met: 1. The products or services provided by the online platform specifically target minors as service recipients, with registered users exceeding 10 million or monthly active users exceeding 1 million; 2. Where the products or services provided by the online platform are not limited to minors, the number of registered minor users exceeds 10 million or the number of monthly active minor users exceeds 1 million. (II) To be identified as an online platform service provider with significant influence on minor groups, the following factors shall be comprehensively considered: 1. The online platform has a relatively large download volume and user scale, or the sales revenue and transaction volume of online products are relatively large; 2. The online platform has relatively high indicators such as minor login frequency, usage duration, usage preferences, and consumption amounts; 3. The online platform contains a large amount of information content involving or targeting minors; 4. The online platform is a representative platform in vertical fields related to minors; 5. The online platform has had relatively many violations of laws and regulations involving minors in the past 3 years, causing significant negative impact; 6. Other factors with significant influence on minor groups. II. Application Method Online platform service providers shall, within 20 working days from the date of the notice's issuance, submit identification application materials by delivering written materials accompanied by electronic versions. Submission method: Send paper application materials (in triplicate, with official seal) and an electronic disc to the provincial cyberspace administration department (specific addresses and contact numbers are shown in Attachment 2). The envelope cover shall be marked with "Website Platform Name + Platform Identification Application Materials." III. Application Requirements Online platform service providers shall strengthen work initiative, conduct self-assessments in advance as required, and make preparations for identification. Where an online platform service provider meets the identification standards for a huge number of minor users and significant influence on minor groups but fails to proactively submit application materials, the Identification Work Advisory Committee will notify it to submit application materials promptly. Enterprises shall provide relevant explanations, data, cases, and other materials in detail according to the template requirements, and be responsible for the completeness, authenticity, and accuracy of the materials. Where application materials need to be supplemented or corrected, the relevant enterprises shall promptly supplement or correct the relevant materials in accordance with the notification requirements. IV. Application Materials Online platform service providers applying for identification shall submit the following materials: 1. "XX Company's Application for Identification as an Online Platform Service Provider with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups" 2. "Online Platform Service Provider Information Form" 3. "Self-Assessment Report of Online Platform Service Provider with a Huge Number of Minor Users and Significant Influence on Minor Groups," including but not limited to: basic platform information, user scale and proportion of minor users, analysis of minors' usage, self-assessment conclusions on the platform's influence on minors, and minor protection measures already taken 4. "Letter of Commitment" 5. Other supporting materials Online platform service providers are responsible for the completeness, authenticity, and accuracy of the submitted self-assessment reports and materials, and shall provide necessary explanatory notes and other supplementary materials as required. There shall be no false information, misleading statements, or material omissions. Relevant material templates can be obtained by contacting the local cyberspace administration department. This article is edited from the official website of the "Cyberspace Administration of China," GMTEight editor: Chen Siyu.