Chinese law limits online gaming time for minors to three hours per week

ByShehryar Makhdoom | Published date:
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Since the crackdown has begun, the gaming industry and kids alike are disappointed. In response to an initiative to protect minors, China has put new limits on the amount of time young people may spend gaming online, ordering platform developers to restrict access to only three hours a week.

Even though the Chinese govt is presenting the move as an effort to combat an increasing opioid addiction problem, opponents contend that the action constitutes a massive overreach and damage to the country's booming video game industry.

The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) introduced a new set of laws on Monday that will require the developers of global companies like Tencent to limit children's online gaming hours to between 6 pm and 9 pm on Friday evenings and weekends and holidays.

China only allows children under 18 to play for 1.5 hours a day, which happened in 2019.

A real-name verification system will also be implemented to ensure that minors' access is restricted. All online games must also be linked to a state-operated anti-duty system. Teachers and administrators are being asked to assist in the fight against gaming addiction.

According to Reuters, Chinese gaming companies had no choice but to plummet when the crackdown was announced.

Analyst Daniel Ahmad said to Bloomberg.

This regulation is the harshest of all and would virtually eliminate the majority of kids' expenditure, which we already see was extremely minimal.

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