Chinese Children's Addiction To Gaming 'Resolved', Says Industry Body (ft.com) 16
China's top gaming industry association declared that the problem of children's video gaming addiction has been "resolved," the clearest signal so far that Beijing will ease its curbs on the approval of new titles. From a report: China's Game Industry Group Committee, which is affiliated with the government's gaming regulatory body, released a report on Tuesday that found 70 per cent of minors played less than three hours of games a week. "Minors' gaming addiction has been basically resolved," the body wrote in a report co-authored by Beijing-based research body CNG. Any easing of China's crackdown on online video games would be a boon for industry leaders Tencent and NetEase, which have borne the brunt of the restrictions.
Beijing sent a shockwave through the gaming industry in August 2021 when it restricted children to only playing online games for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The move came after state media highlighted the mental and physical health toll gaming addiction was having on China's youth, labelling online games a form of "spiritual opium." The time spent by children on Chinese internet giant Tencent's games has plummeted since the regulation change and was down 92 per cent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. During an earnings call with investors last week, Tencent said it had become "fully compliant" with Chinese regulations on gaming for minors and expected "more licenses will be forthcoming in the future."
Beijing sent a shockwave through the gaming industry in August 2021 when it restricted children to only playing online games for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The move came after state media highlighted the mental and physical health toll gaming addiction was having on China's youth, labelling online games a form of "spiritual opium." The time spent by children on Chinese internet giant Tencent's games has plummeted since the regulation change and was down 92 per cent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. During an earnings call with investors last week, Tencent said it had become "fully compliant" with Chinese regulations on gaming for minors and expected "more licenses will be forthcoming in the future."
Wow (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:1)
Why not? Our government (in the USA) has been working on implementing the same mindset here ever since 9/11/2001. Apparently nobody involved in the process remembers the quote, "Those who would sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither." Unfortunately, we've pussified the populace enough that I hear more crying about safety and security than I ever do about freedom anymore. To the point of utter absurdity. Somebody has an accident doing something mildly dangerous? BAN THAT ACTIVITY! PLEASE SAVE US, MOMMY
Re: (Score:2)
> Just think of all the things in the world we could resolve by taking away everyone's personal freedom?
What does that have to do rising infant addiction, media designed to lower their attention span, and corporations maximizing children's exposure for profit ?
Re: (Score:3)
> Just think of all the things in the world we could resolve by taking away everyone's personal freedom?
What does that have to do rising infant addiction, media designed to lower their attention span, and corporations maximizing children's exposure for profit ?
It actually has a lot to do with solving the problem. Solutions include getting rid of infants (a modest proposal!), getting rid of the games, or getting rid of the publicity about the problem. The latter is challenging in a society with too many media outlets but is more practical when the government controls all media. China attempted the second solution but is now moving to the third solution.
Re: (Score:2)
we could resolve by taking away everybody's freedoms?
Solutions include getting rid of infants, getting rid of the games, or getting rid of the publicity about the problem.
I'm not sure what your trying to say. Here's a non pay walled link to the story https://www.bbc.com/news/techn... [bbc.com]
Really nothing much to see, the word "resolved" pulled out of context to generate clicks ?
out of curiosity (Score:2)
how many hours per day do they still spend on their phones?
Translation (Score:2)
Tencent has fallen in line and so the restrictions set to punish large tech companies that wield too much influence in China will relaxed. They know their place now.
Children? What children?
Hahjahahahaha (Score:4, Insightful)
Next year, they can apply this to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. There are literally no addicts in China.
They can join the ranks of enlightened societies like Iran. Remember when the mullahs cured homosexuality? It's a known fact that there are no gay people in Iran.
(seriously hope nobody missed the sarcasm)
Translation: kids are learning about VPN (Score:2)
Re: Translation: kids are learning about VPN (Score:2)
Now fix (Score:1)
Hope next they can fix the addiction to dead broke German economic philosophers.
I think you skipped over the article (Score:2)
that says that China fixed the world. Since China put their head in the ground there hasn't been any wars. All we have now is police conflicts and some minor disagreements that aren't even worth reporting.
What did you expect? (Score:2)
Seems better to assure the Government that the Governments plan worked and return to normal is possible than to tell them that they messed up, it did not work and the industry needs to do more........