China is taking increasingly drastic steps to curb video game addiction in its younger population. Starting September 1, online gamers under 18 can play for one hour on Fridays, weekends, and holidays, totaling three hours weekly.
This is the harshest restriction yet on gaming, as regulators continue to crack down on the technological sector. The National Press and Publication Administration told Xinhua that game-playing would only be allowed between 8 pm and 9 pm.
Previously, China’s strict rules for minors allowed 1.5 hours of video gameplay daily. Additionally, the Administration instructed gaming companies to restrict children from playing outside the specific timeslot of 8 pm to 9 pm. Online gaming companies must ban minors from playing outside these hours and implement real name verification, per the regulator.
Enforcement relies on real-name/ID accounts tracked by game companies, which must comply with these rules while operating in China. This means players can be kicked off after the hour expires, and minors won’t be allowed outside these hours.
In July, Chinese gaming giant, Tencent announced it was rolling out facial recognition to stop children from playing between 22:00 and 08:00. This move followed from fears that children were using adult IDs to circumvent rules.
The Impact of This New Regulation
The new regulation has impacted major Chinese tech firms, including Tencent, whose globally popular game Honor of Kings is affected.
Tencent’s stock price closed down at 0.6% at 465.80 Hong Kong dollars on Monday ahead of the regulator’s announcement. Its market capitalization of $573 billion has dropped over $300 billion since February, a decline surpassing Nike’s total value.
Earlier in August, Tencent announced it would limit gaming time for minors to an hour daily and two hours on holidays, and ban under-12s from making in-game purchases.
Online Games Are Compared to Electronic Drugs
The company imposed this limit shortly after a state-affiliated newspaper called online games “spiritual opium,” likening them to electronic drugs.
The Chinese authorities have long been concerned about gaming addiction and other harmful online activities among youth.
Beijing is particularly skeptical of technology expansion and the negative impact these games have on the well-being of the youth.
The Chinese government hopes these new rules will foster positive energy and instill correct values among young people. For authorities, video game addictions caused a host of societal ills, including distracting people from school and family responsibilities.
China’s regulator said it would increase the frequency and intensity of inspections for online gaming companies to ensure they were putting time limits and anti-addiction systems in place. The online gaming curbs follow a July decision banning tutoring companies from profiting, causing TAL Education and Gaotu Techedu’s shares to plummet.
While many Chinese parents welcome these stringent regulations, some on China’s social media Weibo criticize the government interference as “unreasonable.” One sarcastic comment read:
“Why don’t you plan when I go to the toilet, eat meals and go to bed.”
Similarly, on Twitter, there have been several criticisms concerning the fact that China’s latest move will 100% drive more young players to delve into unregulated foreign games and platforms.
Warren Lee at esports company Hexing Local argued:
“Gamers will find another way. If a domestic solution is impossible, then you cannot fault consumers from looking outwards.”
https://twitter.com/TheRealJoshYe/status/1432698363384930306
The announcement is likely to trigger a reaction among China’s major gaming companies. However, Tencent stated in a recent earnings call that minors made up just 2.6 percent of its online gaming revenue.
This has ultimately proven that Tencent has strictly abided to the latest requirements from the Chinese authorities in functioning to protect the minor’s self- control when playing video games.
The results could be potentially gratifying as Beijing says, limiting video games will guide minors to:
“actively participate in physical exercise, and various colourful, beneficial recreational activities.”
Commercial video games may impact mental health and offer benefits, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, making them worth noting. Check out this article for more information from researchers on this divisive topic.
