Chinese state media say loopholes in playing time limit should be closed

SHANGHAI, Oct. 11 (Reuters) – Chinese state media have said loopholes allowing minors to circumvent new rules to reduce playing time to three hours per week should be removed to “prevent addiction.”

China introduced new rules in August limiting the time under-18s can spend playing video games to three hours per week, a move it said was necessary to tackle gambling addiction, but pushed young Chinese players to express their outrage at the rules. Read more

“On some online trading platforms there are game account rental and sale companies, users can bypass supervision by renting and buying accounts and playing games online without restrictions. “There are still loopholes for teenagers to play online, which is worthy of attention,” the Communist Party’s official People’s Daily newspaper said on Monday.

The comment also states that some game trading platforms have said that strict measures have been taken to prohibit minors from buying, selling and renting accounts. Gaming companies must “actively assume their social responsibilities”, “be responsible for the healthy growth of the next generation” and “promote the healthy development of the industry”.

Families and schools are also urged to create an environment conducive to “the healthy growth of minors,” according to the comment, especially parents, as some minors use their identities to register for a gaming account, making the limit of inefficient playing time.

Authorities in China, the world’s largest video game market, have been concerned about gambling and internet addiction among young people for years, setting up clinics that combine therapy and military exercises for those suffering from self-sufficiency. saying “gambling disorder”.

Reporting by Emily Chow and Wang Jing; Editing by Jacqueline Wong

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