Chinese kids under 18 can now play online games for only for three hours per week
People under 18 will allegedly be permitted to play video games only from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, restricting minors to three hours most weeks.
China has reportedly announced new laws prohibiting minors from playing online video games for more than three hours per week and banning children from playing online games all together from Monday to Thursday. While some news outlets claim that the ban extends to all video games, the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) enforcement measure primarily target online games and gaming-related internet businesses.
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According to media sources, gaming establishments would be barred from providing services to minors in any way outside of the stipulated hours. They will be required to use real-name verification methods.
People under 18 will allegedly be permitted to play video games only from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, restricting minors to three hours most weeks. Under the new regulations, which apply to all gadgets, including phones, young people are barred from gaming at any time from Monday through Thursday each week.
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According to the NPPA, the law is about "safeguarding minors' physical and mental health... and pertains to the growth of the younger generation in the period of national rejuvenation." To prohibit underage gaming, facial recognition and other technologies might be employed. According to reports, enforcement measures were not detailed. Still, in response to previous government moves to limit video gameplay by young people, Tencent Holdings used a combination of technologies, automatically booting off players after a certain period through real-name registration and facial recognition technology to limit gameplay for minors.