China’s New Gaming Addiction Strategy

After Internet Censorship, Chinese Government is now seeking to limit the amount of time teenagers spend playing online games. Teenagers under 18 who spend more than three consecutive hours per day will have limits imposed on the points they gain. According to a report from China National Children Center, 13% of under 18s in China are addicted to online gaming.

Online gaming companies like NetEase and Shanda Interactive Entertainment have been given a deadline of three months to install the anti-addiction software on its users. The anti-addiction software will reduce the points scored by the gamers by 50% if they play from more than three hours per day. Die hard gamers who continuously play for more than 5 hours will receive no points at all. Additionally, they will also receive an onscreen warning that they are entering “unhealthy game time”. All gamers will have to register for gamers using their real names and identity cards number to verify their age.

China looks seriously determined towards bringing an end to net addiction. Previously, they put a hold on any new cyber café from opening in their region to fight against net addiction. I personally feel that this isn’t a step in the right direction, by restrict teenagers and blocking websites, they are seeding hatred in the hearts of teenagers towards their own country. No loyal citizens, no patriots. I certainly agree that online gaming addiction is unhealthy, but they should have tried educating teenagers about the addiction, rather than launching the direct offensives.

Via BBC