---
title_en: "Measures for Identifying Network Platform Service Providers with a Very Large Number of Minor Users and a Significant Impact on Minors"
title_zh: "未成年人用户数量巨大和对未成年人群体具有显著影响的网络平台服务提供者认定办法"
abbreviation: "Minors Platform Identification Measures"
hierarchy: "rule"
issuing_body: "Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and seven other departments"
adopted_date: 2026-02-11
effective_date: 2026-04-01
status: "effective"
source_url: "https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-02/28/c_1774010730056867.htm"
related_laws: ["minors-online-protection-regulations", "minors-protection-law", "csl", "minors-harmful-info-classification-measures", "minors-healthy-safe-internet-use-provisions-draft"]
domains: ["minors-protection", "personal-information", "app-compliance"]
url: https://datacompliancechina.com/laws/minors-platform-identification-measures/
summary: "The eight-department rule that decides which platforms carry the heavier duties of Article 20 of the Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace. A platform qualifies on numbers alone if it serves minors specifically and has 10 million registered or 1 million monthly active users, or if it serves the general public and has 10 million registered or 1 million monthly active minor users (Art 6). It can also qualify on a six-factor impact test that looks at scale, minors' usage and spending, minor-related content, standing in a minor-related vertical, and violations involving minors over the past 3 years (Art 7). Platforms must self-assess and apply on their own initiative. Those that don't can be told to file a self-assessment within 20 working days (Arts 9–10). A proposed list goes out for at least 30 days of public comment before the CAC publishes the final list (Arts 12–14). The exercise runs roughly every 3 years, and a listed platform can apply to leave after 6 consecutive months below the criteria (Arts 8, 16). Identification is the trigger for Article 20's duties: periodic minors-impact assessments, a minors' mode, a compliance system with an independent supervisory body made up mainly of external members, platform rules, and an annual minors-protection social responsibility report. The CAC launched the first identification round on October 16, 2026."
---

> **Source: Data Compliance China** — https://datacompliancechina.com/laws/minors-platform-identification-measures/ · English rendering and annotations by DCC; the Chinese original governs. Cite as: Data Compliance China, "Measures for Identifying Network Platform Service Providers with a Very Large Number of Minor Users and a Significant Impact on Minors", https://datacompliancechina.com/laws/minors-platform-identification-measures/
**Promulgated by:** Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA).
**Document No.:** Guo Xin Ban Fa Wen [2026] No. 2 (国信办发文〔2026〕2号).
**Issued February 11, 2026 (published February 28, 2026). Effective April 1, 2026.**

> *DCC note.* These Measures implement the second paragraph of Article 20
> of the [Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace](/laws/minors-online-protection-regulations/),
> which left the identification rules to the CAC and the relevant
> departments. The Chinese title joins the two categories with 和 ("and"),
> but the Regulations use 或者 ("or"): a platform qualifies under either
> Article 6 or Article 7. For the first identification round, launched
> October 16, 2026, see DCC's brief
> [CAC opens the first identification round for Article 20 platforms](/posts/cac-minors-platform-identification-launch-october-2026/).
> DCC translation; the Chinese text is authoritative.

---

## Notice on Issuing the Measures

To the cyberspace administrations, press and publication bureaus,
education departments (bureaus), communications administrations, public
security departments (bureaus), culture and tourism departments (bureaus),
market regulation bureaus (departments, commissions), and radio and
television bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities
directly under the Central Government; and the cyberspace administration,
press and publication bureau, education bureau, public security bureau,
market regulation bureau, and culture, sports, radio, television and
tourism bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

The *Measures for Identifying Network Platform Service Providers with a
Very Large Number of Minor Users and a Significant Impact on Minors* are
hereby issued to you. Please implement them conscientiously.

Cyberspace Administration of China · National Press and Publication
Administration · Ministry of Education · Ministry of Industry and
Information Technology · Ministry of Public Security · Ministry of Culture
and Tourism · State Administration for Market Regulation · National Radio
and Television Administration

February 11, 2026

---

## Chapter 1 General Provisions

**Article 1.** These Measures are formulated in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the
People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors, the Regulations on
the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace, and other laws and regulations, in
order to determine on a sound basis the scope of network platform service
providers with a very large number of minor users and a significant impact
on minors.

**Article 2.** Identification work shall adhere to the principles of
acting in accordance with laws and regulations, fairness and impartiality,
and seeking truth from facts. It shall fully safeguard the lawful rights
and interests of minors and draw on the strengths of all parties to
strengthen the protection of minors online.

**Article 3.** The national cyberspace administration, together with the
national press and publication authority and the relevant State Council
departments for education, telecommunications, public security, culture
and tourism, market regulation, and radio and television, shall organize
identification work and guide the formation of an Identification Work
Advisory Committee.

**Article 4.** Identification work under these Measures shall avoid
affecting the normal production and business activities of network
platform service providers. Network platform service providers that meet
the identification criteria shall apply for identification on their own
initiative in accordance with these Measures.

**Article 5.** Identification work shall in principle be conducted
openly, except for matters involving State secrets, trade secrets,
personal privacy, or other matters that shall be kept confidential in
accordance with law.

## Chapter 2 Identification Criteria

**Article 6.** A network platform service provider meeting any one of the
following circumstances shall be identified as a network platform service
provider with a very large number of minor users:

(1) the products or services provided by the network platform are
specifically directed at minors, and it has 10 million or more registered
users or 1 million or more monthly active users;

(2) the products or services provided by the network platform are not
limited to minors, and it has 10 million or more registered minor users or
1 million or more monthly active minor users.

**Article 7.** In identifying network platform service providers with a
significant impact on minors, the following factors shall be considered
comprehensively:

(1) the network platform has a relatively large number of downloads or
scale of users, or relatively large sales, transaction volume, or similar
figures for its online products;

(2) the network platform has relatively high indicators for minors' login
frequency, usage time, usage preferences, spending, and the like;

(3) the network platform carries a large volume of information content
involving or directed at minors;

(4) the network platform is a representative platform in a minor-related
vertical sector;

(5) the network platform has had a relatively large number of violations
of laws and regulations involving minors within the past 3 years,
producing a relatively significant negative impact;

(6) other factors having a significant impact on minors.

## Chapter 3 Initiation and Self-Assessment

**Article 8.** The national cyberspace administration, together with the
relevant departments, shall study and initiate identification work in
accordance with the identification procedure.

Identification work shall in principle be conducted once every 3 years.
It may also be initiated as appropriate where a network platform's number
of users surges, its impact on minors rises significantly, or similar
circumstances arise.

**Article 9.** Network platform service providers shall assess their own
impact on minors against the identification criteria. Those that consider
that they meet the identification criteria shall apply for identification
on their own initiative and submit a self-assessment report.

**Article 10.** Where the Identification Work Advisory Committee, on the
basis of the identification criteria and the actual development of
business models, concludes after study that a network platform service
provider meets the identification criteria but has not applied for
identification on its own initiative, it shall propose that the provider
be brought within the scope of identification. Upon study and agreement by
the national cyberspace administration together with the relevant
departments, the network platform service provider concerned shall be
notified to submit a self-assessment report.

The network platform service provider shall submit the self-assessment
report within 20 working days of the date on which it receives the notice.

**Article 11.** Network platform service providers are responsible for the
completeness, truthfulness, and accuracy of the self-assessment reports
and materials they submit, and shall provide necessary explanations and
other supplementary materials as required. They shall not include false
information, misleading statements, material omissions, or the like.

Where a network platform service provider fails to apply for
identification or to cooperate in identification work as provided in
these Measures, or provides false materials or conceals important facts,
the cyberspace and other relevant departments shall deal with the matter
in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

## Chapter 4 Deliberation and Decision

**Article 12.** Identification work shall solicit opinions and suggestions
from all parties through symposiums, expert deliberation meetings, on-site
visits, and other means.

The draft proposed identification list shall be released for public
comment. The public comment period shall generally be no less than 30
days.

**Article 13.** The Identification Work Advisory Committee shall propose
the proposed identification list on the basis of the comments received.

**Article 14.** The national cyberspace administration, together with the
relevant departments, shall study the proposed identification list
comprehensively against the identification criteria, taking into account
the self-assessment reports, the comments received, and other relevant
information, and shall determine the identification list and publish it.

## Chapter 5 Supervision and Administration

**Article 15.** The national cyberspace administration, together with the
relevant departments, shall supervise and administer identification work
and the performance of obligations in accordance with law by identified
network platform service providers.

**Article 16.** An identified network platform service provider that
considers that it has not met the identification criteria for 6
consecutive months may submit an application for change of identification
together with supporting materials.

The national cyberspace administration, together with the relevant
departments, shall review applications for change of identification.
Where, after review, the provider is found no longer to meet the
identification criteria, it shall be promptly removed from the
identification list.

## Chapter 6 Supplementary Provisions

**Article 17.** These Measures take effect on April 1, 2026.