Cure the gaming fix by fixing reality

In January, the documentary Web Junkie was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, capturing the attention of world media. Directed by Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia, the documentary shares with the world a boot camp type of therapy center for Internet addicts in Daxing, Beijing.

The therapy center uses a variety of methods to treat teenagers hopelessly addicted to the Internet, especially online gaming. One of the methods shown is electroshock therapy, which was first used by Yang Yongxin, director for the Center for Cyber Addiction Treatment in Linyi, Shandong province. However, due to the lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety, electroshock therapy was banned by the Ministry of Health in July 2009.

Addressing the problem of "electronic heroin", as the staff at the center refer to it, is largely an uphill battle as more young people take to online gaming and vendors have more money to invest in games. Parents have reasons to worry.