Video games: to fight against addiction, China votes for completely absurd regulations – Hitek.fr

China is not the land of freedoms, far from it. Between the multiple censures with regard to the special episode for the reunion of the actors of Friends and the use of virtual reality to restrict access to video games among the youngest, the Middle Kingdom seems to be exploring all possibilities. Determined to fight against the growing addiction to video games within its borders, China has just passed a completely absurd regulation.

new absurd restrictions

Years go by and Beijing continues to tighten its grip on its population through new restrictions put in place in various sectors, including education, real estate and new technologies. Among the targeted sectors, we also find the video game, which the country has in the past called “spiritual opium”. Strong terms, which testify to China’s aversion to a flourishing industry.

But among young people, its effects seem too worrying for the party in power not to leave luck to chance. Thus, on Monday, China published new rules for minors. Anyone under the age of 18 will not be able to play online for more than three hours per week. A time slot has even been put in place: namely Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Exception for holidays, during which minors can play one hour a day, again from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Adolescents are the future of our homeland“Xinhua, the party’s news agency, said, quoting an anonymous spokesperson for the NPPA, the National Press and Publications Administration.”The protection of the physical and mental health of minors is linked to the vital interests of the people, and concerns the culture of the young generation in the era of national rejuvenation.. “

Measures that follow those introduced in 2019, following which minors could only play video games online for an hour and a half a day and three hours a day during the holidays. With 62.5% of its minors playing online games, and 13.2% of its minors playing mobile games more than two hours a day on weekdays, according to the party’s news agency , China wanted to increase the severity of its restrictions.

In China, however, video games are a very lucrative sector. This year, the industry is estimated to generate $ 45.6 billion there, thanks to giants like Tencent, NetEase and Bilibili. At this rate, it is quite possible that video games will still be subject to even more severe restrictions in the years to come. Do you think these rules are a good idea? Do not hesitate to answer us via the survey below.