BEIJING, Sep. 1 -- The recently-held 12th session of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress passed the "Regulations of Heilongjiang Province on the Protection of Minors."

    The Regulations listed "preventing young love" among family protection items, prescribing that the parents or guardians should criticize and educate minors in young love, and prevent and correct this act.

    The news has provoked heated debate. Several high school and university students interviewed said that the "young love" concept is extremely difficult to define. What kind of love is young love? Some people think that love between high school students is young love, while others think even love between junior middle school students is just normal love.

    Some psychologists and lawyers believe that "prevent" could be legally interpreted as "forbid," which means parents or guardians should not allow their children to fall in “young love”. However, it is not practical to prevent young love, and there is also no specific measure to help parents or guardians prevent this act. Moreover, simple and brutal "suppression" is also not conducive to the physical and psychological development of minors.

    Some netizens believe that "young love" has nothing to do with laws or regulations. Parents should remain vigilant to minors' "young love," but should not simply regard normal affection and interaction between two minors of different sexes as "young love." Parents should discourage minors from falling in "young love" as much as possible, and tell them that "young love" will affect their normal lives and school achievements.

    According to a report, a relevant official from Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress said that when the Regulations were first amended, the item about "young love" was not included, however during the examination carried out by the Standing Committee, a member of the Committee proposed that parents should prevent minors from falling in young love, and educate, criticize and help those who have fallen in young love. Therefore, they finally incorporated this opinion.

    Conflicting viewpoints

    Student's parent, Ms Zhang: It will guarantee children's healthy development

    My child will be 15 years old this year, and I'm quite worried that "young love" will affect his school achievements. It is definitely the fault of parents' lax discipline if a child has this problem. Making a law to prevent young love will guarantee children's healthy development, and is a demonstration of love to minors.

    Harbin resident, Mr Zhou: Increases guardians' responsibilities

    This law is aimed at parents and guardians. So, the responsibility of parents and guardians to manage children's young love has become a legal responsibility. In fact, when young love becomes a severe educational problem, parents should undertake their explicit responsibility. This regulation is just the written form of an explicit responsibility.

    Netizen shilun888: Scientific guidance is more important

    Young love is normal psychological and physical behavior during puberty, just like the menopause. Is it necessary to make a law on the menopause? Scientific guidance is required to correct young love. Simple and brutal suppression will only make rebellious teenage feelings even worse.

    Netizen Mo Jinjin: It is completely unnecessary to make a law to prevent young love.

    "Even an upright official finds it hard to settle a family quarrel." It is completely unnecessary to make a law to prevent young love. Laws should discipline measurable and detailed acts but not intangible affection, not only because there is no standard to measure this affection, but also because there is no feasible method to enforce such a law.

    (Source: People's Daily)