China wants to ban under-18s from online gaming after midnight, open more internet addiction clinics

[midian182]

Online gaming is a big deal throughout most of Asia, especially in China, which has the world’s largest internet user population – over 750 million people. Addiction among its younger population has led the country to propose some extreme measures, including the banning of anyone under 18 from playing online games after midnight.

The Cyberspace Administration of China’s rules also suggest that schools work with the controversial internet rehabilitation centers that have flourished in the country. The South China Morning Post reports that these military-style boot camps are resorting to methods such as electric shocks and physical punishment as ways of stopping young people from playing online games.

“This is a disaster for Chinese teenagers,” said lawyer Wang Qiushi. “More such boot camps might emerge after the passage of this regulation.”

Approximately 74 percent of internet users in China are aged between ten and thirty-nine, and 23 percent are under the age of nineteen.

It will be the responsibility of developers to block minors from playing online games between the hours of 12 AM and 8 AM every day. Those under 18 would have to register to play using their ID, with all the information then stored on the company's servers. The rules also ask developers to create software for detecting underage users, and to design games in a way that deters young people from becoming addicted.

China already has regulations that attempt to curb minors' online gaming habits. In 2007, authorities instructed game operators to deduct points from younger players if they spend more than three hours on a game. Three years later, game firms were told to clamp down on under-18s using fake IDs by verifying their identity numbers with a database provided by the Ministry of Public Security.

The proposals are open to public feedback until the end of October. Users of Chinese social media site Weibo have already expressed their opposition to the plans. “How do we define internet addiction? We all work in an office in front of the computer for at least eight hours. My younger brother uses a computer at school. Who is the internet addict? Everyone,” wrote one commentator.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/66601-china-wants-ban-under-18s-online-gaming-after.html

 

[RzmmDX]

How does one design something to be not addictive and yet be somewhat entertaining?

 

[robb213]

I had no clue such a thing in China existed at all until I saw a documentary on Netflix called "Web Junkie" that followed a bunch of kids to one of these militaristic rehab camps. Pretty interesting stuff...but ultimately it doesn't seem to work for long and they usually fall back in the habit.

At least a few of the families that they talked with in the documentary displayed family problems, ranging from abuse, neglect/communication problems, and more. So it's no surprise these kids dig themselves into the online world.

 

[yRaz]

Maybe if China didn't suck so much as a country people might not resort to escapism such as gaming. I'd tell them to go ride a bike, but they're better of staying inside because the air quality will kill you.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Isn't it the parents job to regulate their kids activities?

 

[yRaz]

Isn't it the parents job to regulate their kids activities?

Their parents are to busy slaving away making iCrap and stuff to line the shelves of Wal-Mart to take care of their children

 

[Gaara]

You guys don't get it china is doing the best for their children the USA , Chinese focus more on Education them stupid game

 

[yRaz]

You guys don't get it china is doing the best for their children the USA , Chinese focus more on Education them stupid game

And your country of origin would be.....?

 

[Lionvibez]

You guys don't get it china is doing the best for their children the USA , Chinese focus more on Education them stupid game

Where are there parents??

They are most likely the ones paying the internet bill!

 

[Techstar]

This is a smart move if you ask me. Good thinking.

 

[Techstar]

Maybe if China didn't suck so much as a country people might not resort to escapism such as gaming. I'd tell them to go ride a bike, but they're better of staying inside because the air quality will kill you.

Spend a lot of time in China, do you?

 

[wastedkill]

Here's what they should do, make internet time a salary then you have people ranging from 3days to 93 years participating in working for internet time. This will make China more money whilst allowing people to not get addicted to the internet.

I also propose putting chips in brains to allow the government to know who violates its rules and when. Knowing china this is already in the planning stages.

 

[treetops]

Isn't it the parents job to regulate their kids activities?

Kinda hard when your working 36 hour shifts at the apple factory.

 

[Nobina]

No children after midnight on the internet would be so good but impossible to implement in a normal way.

 

[davislane1]

Maybe if China didn't suck so much as a country people might not resort to escapism such as gaming. I'd tell them to go ride a bike, but they're better of staying inside because the air quality will kill you.

You do know that Hong Kong isn't "China," right?

 

[yRaz]

You do know that Hong Kong isn't "China," right?

China has been slowly taking Hong kongs Democratic rights away. It no longer makes up such a large portion of their GDP so having a hands off approach to HKs economy doesn't benefit the CCP anymore. There were some protests by the people of Hong Kong that were squandered by arresting them and turning them into organ donors.

 

[Techstar]

China has been slowly taking Hong kongs Democratic rights away. It no longer makes up such a large portion of their GDP so having a hands off approach to HKs economy doesn't benefit the CCP anymore. There were some protests by the people of Hong Kong that were squandered by arresting them and turning them into organ donors.

Squandered? They were wasted? I think you mean they were squelched or put down.

 

[Wendy Oltman]

A great initiative to divert back the specially the youth's addiction from internet back to normal every day life. I think this example must be followed upon here in the West as well. But again, let's just not talk abut the public uproar it will cause and the rights group demanding freedom of speech.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Kinda hard when your working 36 hour shifts at the apple factory.

Then they should take their kids to work with them to get them acclimated to their future.

 

[Techstar]

A great initiative to divert back the specially the youth's addiction from internet back to normal every day life. I think this example must be followed upon here in the West as well. But again, let's just not talk abut the public uproar it will cause and the rights group demanding freedom of speech.

Exactly. My kids get to use the computer during the week for schoolwork only, and they can play games from 1:00 to 4:00 on weekends, only if we are not doing other activities together like biking or playing Bocce, or reading, etc.

 

[gnpfrslo]

Why not 10 pm?

Maybe if China didn't suck so much as a country people might not resort to escapism such as gaming. I'd tell them to go ride a bike, but they're better of staying inside because the air quality will kill you.

Spend a lot of time in China, do you?

Leave it to the average US citizens to understand the complex workings of the world outside of the immediate grasp of his own eyes.

 

[yRaz]

Leave it to the average US citizens to understand the complex workings of the world outside of the immediate grasp of his own eyes.

leave it to an anonymous person on the internet to make assumptions about what another anonymous person on the internet knows about the outside world.

 

[Wendy Oltman]

Exactly. My kids get to use the computer during the week for schoolwork only, and they can play games from 1:00 to 4:00 on weekends, only if we are not doing other activities together like biking or playing Bocce, or reading, etc.

That's a great initiative on your part, which we do not witness these days from parents. Kids and youth are not being guided along as to how to properly use the internet, rather it has become their life support from which they think if detached they will have a social death.