Research On the Legal Problems of Minors' Internet Consumption in The Context of Chinese Law

The rise of minors' online consumption disputes in China has been caused by the country's expanding internet user base, particularly within younger demographics. This paper focuses on the problems in minors' online consumption by examining two typical cases, Zheng v. Mellywood Company and Zhang v. A Digital Technology Company. It identifies three main legal canonical issues: recognition of the subject of minors, determination of the efficacy of online consuming behaviors of minors, and retroactive confirmation of the validity of minors' online consumption by the representative-in-law. This paper utilizes qualitative analysis to explore the inadequacies of current Chinese legal frameworks in protecting minors from online consumption. Through a jurisprudential review and comparative legal analysis, this paper suggests a critical gap in regulating minors' online consumption in China, emphasizing the need for legislative and regulatory reforms. Then this paper proposes a set of suggestions to appease disputes in the online consumption of minors. These include adopting the merits of international legal exception regulations, introducing effective oversight mechanisms, and providing more precise legal definitions concerning minors' online activities. It also suggests that a combination of refined legislation and improved regulatory oversight could significantly mitigate the risks associated with minors' online consumption.