The Morning Brief From Age Gating to Content Rating, Microdrama Apps are Flouting Rules
Dec 18, 2025
Mallika Noorani, a lawyer at Parinam Law Associates specializing in digital media regulations, discusses critical compliance gaps in microdrama apps. She highlights the absence of age gating and health disclaimers, revealing how these platforms operate outside the law. Noorani explains why they qualify as publishers under current guidelines, the need for proper grievance systems, and the implications of weak content ratings. The conversation sheds light on the regulatory blind spots and the importance of protecting users from hidden dangers in curated digital content.
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Microdramas Fit Existing Rules
- Microdrama platforms qualify as publishers of online curated content regardless of episode length.
- So the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code apply to them just as to OTT services.
Mature Themes With Weak Safeguards
- Many microdrama apps host sexual themes, violence and drug use without proper age gating or content ratings.
- This exposes minors because platforms lack children's categories and parental controls mandated by the rules.
Signup Age Claims vs On-Screen Warnings
- Quick TV required users to confirm they're 18+ in fine print during signup but did not show on-screen warnings at episode start.
- Pocket TV allowed signup at 13+, and Story TV even claimed users could be 5 years old despite adult themes.