Teen’s Obsession with Smartwatch Likes Sparks National Debate
A 13-year-old middle school student has recently garnered significant attention after disclosing his daily routine of dedicating nine to ten hours to his children’s smartwatch—not for making calls, but rather for “farming likes.”
Over time, he amassed a staggering 1.31 million likes, ultimately selling the account for 1,000 yuan (approximately US$140) after generating a total of 3,500 yuan over more than two years, according to reports from Hubei Daily.
This young man’s experience is emblematic of a growing trend across China. Smartwatches, initially designed for location tracking and emergency communication, have morphed into compact social media platforms.
These devices now feature personal homepages, virtual avatars, friend networks, as well as systems for likes, levels, and rankings.
Among elementary school students, the act of sustaining a “homepage,” broadening friend lists, and exchanging likes has become a daily ritual, frequently described as “circle-building.”
Accounts flush with likes are dubbed “big shots,” and the cap of 150 friends per account intensifies the competition. Some children opt to sever real-life friendships to maintain their virtual ones, as inactive peers might be purged to accommodate new connections.
The Rising Stakes of ‘Like’ Culture
The quest for likes has escalated to alarming levels, with accounts of children staying awake until 3 a.m. or rising at 5 a.m. to fulfill informal “like quotas” dictated by online companions.
Many parents remain oblivious to their children’s digital interactions, as smartwatch chat histories and profiles often escape scrutiny.
Within this insular digital realm, popularity has transformed into a form of currency. Accounts laden with likes are venerated as status symbols and are increasingly being commodified.
Online searches reveal numerous posts offering paid “like services,” automated tools, and the direct sale of high-level accounts.
Caption: Some of the high-level accounts could be sold for profit.
Parental Concerns and Regulatory Reactions
Parents express anxiety that such systems cultivate comparison, vanity, and detrimental spending behaviors.
“If parents refuse to pay, will children seek alternative means of acquiring funds?” questioned one mother. “And once this behavior initiates, will it proliferate among peers?”
In response to escalating criticism, Xiaotiancai, a leading smartwatch brand, has recently eliminated its “sports likes” and ranking features. Yet, fundamental issues remain deeply entrenched.
Experts contend that the fault extends beyond specific devices; rather, it resides in the social incentives that are intricately woven into children’s gadgets.
“Children’s smartwatch social circles have evolved beyond mere communication tools,” stated Liu Xiaochun, director of the Internet Law Research Center at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
“They now embody elements of competition and comparison, which underscores the necessity for platform accountability and protective design.”
Regulatory bodies are beginning to take action. A new mandatory national standard for children’s smartwatches will be implemented starting January 2027, having been issued in December 2025.
This standard will encompass a comprehensive set of requirements regarding content safety, data protection, addiction prevention, time restrictions, and payment controls, while banning the pre-installation of games, short videos, and live-streaming applications that could jeopardize children’s well-being.
Industry experts suggest that while these regulations signify a pivotal advancement, they alone are insufficient.
As children’s smartwatches, tablets, and educational devices continue to blur the lines between education, entertainment, and social interaction, safeguarding minors will necessitate concerted efforts from manufacturers, regulators, and families alike.
Source link: Citynewsservice.cn.
