While it’s impossible for game lovers to imagine spending their free days without playing video games, one country has just banned the act to curve modern addiction.
As the Chinese government announced, children below 18 years old are now banned from playing video games for more than 90 minutes per day. In addition, they won’t be permitted to play after 10 p.m.
The controversial decision follows after the government repeatedly expressed their concerns about degrading students’ performance and addiction to the virtual world.
Officials blame video games not only for the lack of academic performance but also for physical concerns such as the rise in nearsightedness.
While the country’s online gaming business represents a multi-billion industry that has never thrived more, President Xi Jinping has been cracking down on the virtual world in recent years.
Previously, the officials have blocked a series of video games claiming they were poisoning young minds with violence. At the same time, they also used tech companies to spread Communist Party values through the virtual world.
Speaking of the new regulations, The National Press and Publication Administration claimed they would limit in-game purchases to $28 per month for the youngest of players and $57 for older ones.
The government will also require players of online games to provide real names and use identification numbers in order to keep track and control of their gaming time.
“These problems affect the physical and mental health of minors, as well as their normal learning and living,” the agency claimed.
While the changes are meant to combat addiction and improve the real-life performance of children, critics have said the new law will badly hurt the revenue.
In addition, they have warned that young minds will quickly come up with alternative ways to work around the ban.
“There are always going to be loopholes,” senior analyst Daniel Ahmad said.
“I think compared to the West, it’s very extreme. Publishers and developers need to be very aware of the content of the games they are developing for the market.”
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Replaced!