Online gaming addiction curbed after regulations

Most Chinese minors spend less than a few hours a week playing online games following implementation of a regulation to further protect minors from addiction, according to an industry report.

The report, released during the annual meeting of China's game industry in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, indicated more than 70 percent of Chinese minors played online games within three hours per week.

The report was jointly conducted by the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association and the Gamma Data Corp, a Chinese gaming database.

Additionally, over 86 percent of parents reported satisfaction with the effect of the new regulation on protection of minors.

According to the regulation issued by the National Press and Publication Administration in August 2021, online game providers can only offer one hour of service to minors from 8 pm to 9 pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

"The problem of minors' addiction to games has been further solved, as the total duration of minors playing online games and consumption level have been greatly reduced," said Ao Ran, executive vice-president of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association.

To further protect youths, Tencent Games, a major business department with technology giant Tencent Holdings Ltd, has announced upgrades to its systems.

"We are exploring more diversified and constructive solutions for the protection of minors and promoting construction of a more mature ecosystem for minors," said Zhang Wei, vice-president of Tencent Interactive Entertainment.

According to Zhang, the upgraded protection would focus on creating better offline entertainment and living habits for minors by offering technology classes and sports activities.