BEIJING – China’s National Press and Publication Administration announced on Monday that individuals aged below 18 will only be allocated no more than three hours a week for online gaming.
Children and teenagers are given an hour on Fridays, weekends and public holidays and are only allowed to play between 8 pm and 9 pm.
The policy aims to curb excessive gaming in a country where authorities claim they are facing a crippling “video game addiction” among youths, reported Xinhua.
Many parents said their children’s addiction to online games have seriously affected their studies, physical, and mental health, leading to a series of social problems.
Experts: Ban has minimal effects
This isn’t the first time the Chinese government has attempted to tackle online gaming addiction.
In 2019, gamers were allowed to play for 90 minutes on weekdays. Additionally, those under 18-years-old could play up to three hours during the weekends and public holidays.
However, analysts remain skeptical of the ban, saying that it has little influence on gaming powerhouses like Tencent and NetEase.
Tencent previously stated that it earns a paltry portion from younger users, while NetEase claimed that minors “represent low singe digits of NetEase’s gaming revenue”.
Both companies have also faced tighter regulations in the past and introduced initiatives to limit the number of hours gamers spend playing their games.
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Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
