China implements steeper online gaming restrictions for children under 18
Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
TL; DR
- China has further restricted minors’ access to online games, according to state media.
- Children under the age of 18 can only play online games for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- The move aims to suppress minors’ addiction to online gaming.
If you’re having trouble keeping your child away from online games as a parent in China, a fresh clue may help your cause. According to a report from that country, children under the age of 18 have severe restrictions on when and for how long they can play online games.
Per government publication Xinhua, minors can only play online games between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The announcement comes from China’s National Press and Publication Administration aimed at reducing underage addiction to online gaming. In particular, it is not up to parents to keep children away from their favorite titles. Instead, online game providers like Tencent and NetEase have the job of providing real name registration details to keep an eye on their users.
The new guidelines build on China’s existing restrictions that were introduced in November 2019 and allowed for a maximum online play time of 90 minutes per day and three hours during the holidays The New York Times. Only a few months earlier, the World Health Organization had classified the “gambling disorder” as a diagnosable health condition.
China’s latest move is likely to frustrate the country’s major online companies. Earlier this month, Tencent announced that it would prevent children under the age of 12 from making in-app purchases on its titles SCMP. It also introduced a time limit for anyone under the age of 18 playing its flagship title, Honor of Kings.
Some may argue that the responsibility lies with parents to keep children out of online gaming. But what is your point of view? What do you think of restricting minors’ access to online games? Vote in our poll above and share your thoughts below.
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