China Cures Internet Addiction

[Andy Chalk]

China Cures Internet Addiction

Good news from China, where censors claim that the imposition of daily time limits on gaming has solved the problem of rampant online gaming addiction among the country's youth.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/20/content_11044484.htm] has reported that the number of online gamers under the age of 18 now represents only 15 percent of total respondents to a 2008 nationwide survey by the China Youth Social Service Center, a decline of seven percent over the previous year. The survey also found that roughly 60 percent of Chinese youth were "satisfied" with China's online gaming anti-addiction system, which General Administration of Press and Publication Deputy Chief Sun Shoushan credited for the decreasing numbers of addicted teenage gamers.

The system was imposed in 2007 [http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/china-imposes-anti-addiction-limits-on-kids-gaming/] and requires all game operators in China to set limits on the amount of time minors can play online games each day. Players who remain online for more than three hours daily lose "half their earned credits," while breaking the five hour daily mark results in the loss of all credits. Gamers are also required to use real names and official identity cards when they register for games so they can be properly monitored.

The "anti-indulgence" system was imposed not a moment too soon, too: In 2007, Chinese sociologist Tao Hongkai of the were the result of internet addiction [http://www.ccnu.edu.cn/english/]. He said online game companies are "bringing calamity to the country and the people" and called for them to be driven out of business.

via: GamesIndustry [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/chinese-censor-claims-success-against-online-games]


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[Baby Tea]

You know, as totalitarian as it is...I actually kind of like the idea.
But, then again, if I've got a day off and my wife isn't bugging me then I'll spend more then 5 hours on XBL so...yeah.

 

[Nimbus]

Hmm... maybe someone should... nah... but...

OKAY FINE. I'll go overthrow society. Be right back. *grumbe* *grumble*

*grabs spork*

[/sarcasm]


Seriously though, something is wrong with the chinese attitude towards the internet. May I direct you attention towards THIS [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/de-rez/465-Norman-the-Healer].
There is a difference between an addiction and a way of life.

 

[ae86gamer]

As long as they don't do this in America I'm fine.

 

[cainx10a]

The "anti-indulgence" system was imposed not a moment too soon, too: In 2007, Chinese sociologist Tao Hongkai of the Huazhong Normal University claimed that 70 percent of juvenile delinquent behavior in China, and 90 percent of flunk-outs from Chinese colleges, were the result of internet addiction. He said online game companies are "bringing calamity to the country and the people" and called for them to be driven out of business.

He has a good point though.

 

[Macgyvercas]

i always said China was screwed up...to me, this proves it

 

[Doug]

Hmm... maybe someone should... nah... but...

OKAY FINE. I'll go overthrow society. Be right back. *grumbe* *grumble*

*grabs spork*

[/sarcasm]


Seriously though, something is wrong with the chinese attitude towards the internet. May I direct you attention towards THIS [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/de-rez/465-Norman-the-Healer].
There is a difference between an addiction and a way of life.

Well dur. China is a dictatorship state, you know, and they are trying to filter the internet via their "Great Firewall of China" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Shield_Project]

 

[Tiamat666]

If virtual worlds are already very popular among western youths, imagine how it must be in (most of) China... where you look out the window and all you see is factories and smoggy grey sky. I don't know... never been to China, but I guess that kids over there don't have much to look forward to after school.

 

[Ronwue]

Well.. Seems like China is the country of the future...where did I leave my passport.

 

[Skizle]

i dont think that juvenile delinquency in China is all cause by internet addiction, its probably more about teenage rebellion than anything.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

He has a good point though.

How? Those percentages he has given are ridiculous. Internet dependance causing crime? Quite hard to spray graffiti or steal when glued to a computer system. Unless he's suggesting that these kids are taking to the streets to fund their habit. And 90% of dropouts just being unable to cope with the demands of study and WoW? I had to check the date when I saw this article to make sure it wasn't April 1st.

Limits should be determined by responsible guardians (yes, those mythical beasts) who actually know their children.

 

[Mostly Harmless]

Whats wrong with the parents enforcing something like this. Why does the government have to step in.
Besides wouldn't people addicted to the internet be too busy I don't know going on the internet to commit crimes. Or are they talking about crimes like piracy, identity theft, and viruses. It all seems king of unwarranted really.

 

[rossatdi]

I know personally at least three people who that would massively benefit.

The culprit:

WoW
WoW

and in a shocking turn of events

WoW.

 

[Tiamat666]

Well dur. China is a dictatorship state...

Actually, China is not a dictatorship like Cuba or North Korea. It is a one party system, but it has democratic elements. People can vote representatives, but they all belong to the communist party.

If that is dictatorship to you, keep in mind that the U.S. is a de-facto two party system where both parties follow a very similiar ideology. The way I see it, from a political standpoint, China isn't that different from the U.S., except that China has more laws restricting personal and economic freedoms.

In Germany, as in most other european countries, for example, we have a liberal, pro-economic party, a conservative party, a workers party, a socialist party, a green party and a few smaller ones. And all of these have a good chance of getting into parliament as long as they receive more than 5% of the vote.

 

[IceStar100]

Why I'm glad I dont live there. USA where we can play games tell are minds rot.

 

[cainx10a]

He has a good point though.

How? Those percentages he has given are ridiculous. Internet dependance causing crime? Quite hard to spray graffiti or steal when glued to a computer system. Unless he's suggesting that these kids are taking to the streets to fund their habit. And 90% of dropouts just being unable to cope with the demands of study and WoW?, I had to check the date when I saw this article to make sure it wasn't April 1st.

Limits should be determined by responsible guardians (yes, those mythical beasts) who actually know their children.

I strongly believe that MMOs can offer a decent form of escapism from the struggles of daily life for said students who might be living in poverty. Dropping out of School/College mean these students:

1. will have a job with low pay and will keep on living in poverty
2. have children who will follow the same trend (even researches and surveys in the US/CA show that this is actually true)
3. living on welfare
4. Not really contributing to their country as a professional worker

Yes, while the numbers sound far fetched, it's not like the government is completely preventing the Chinese from completely stopping to play online games. And the 3 hours daily limit, seems fair enough.

 

[Beowulf DW]

I must say that I grudgingly agree with this measure. Playing games too much can indeed lead to the neglection of responsibilities, like school work. I know of at least one guy here at Penn State who ended up dropping out because he spent too much time playing Pokemon when he should have been studying.

I certainly enjoy gaming, but if I spend my whole day doing nothing else, I'll feel as though I just wasted an entire day. And I admit that when a game is getting really good, I find it extremely difficult to pull myself away from it, even when I know I should. Having a little timer saying that I need to stop would certainly be appreciated in those situations.

So...I guess that you could say that I'm in support of this measure by the Chinese government. A three hour time limit seems reasonable to me, it would allow one to enjoy the game for a decent amount of time, while still allowing time for other activities.

 

[super_smash_jesus]

He has a good point though.

How? Those percentages he has given are ridiculous. Internet dependance causing crime? Quite hard to spray graffiti or steal when glued to a computer system. Unless he's suggesting that these kids are taking to the streets to fund their habit. And 90% of dropouts just being unable to cope with the demands of study and WoW? I had to check the date when I saw this article to make sure it wasn't April 1st.

Limits should be determined by responsible guardians (yes, those mythical beasts) who actually know their children.

you got it exactly right. Why is it parents have no accountability anymore? When did that change? My parents forced me to go play outside when it was a nice day out, does that still happen?

Regardless, I know China's dictatorship allows the gov't to meddle in the populations lives a lot more than a democracy, but I still don't see this as their responsibility to fix this addiction. Its not a horrible rule, but it is one that shouldn't even have to be there if parents would just start hitting their children again(figure of speech, don't hit your children).