In China, online gambling limited to three hours per week for minors

In an internet cafe in China (illustrative image).

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4 min

Adolescents look grim in China.

Online video games are now limited to three hours per week for minors.

This decision of the authorities is justified by the fight against addiction to screens.

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With our correspondent in Beijing,

Stéphane Lagarde

Happiness of parents, misfortune of

gamers

 !

The decision of the Chinese regulator is debated, to say the least, this morning on the Sina Weibo network.

“ 

Online or not online, limiting playtime is a good thing, 

” wrote one mom.

But for Li, it is a disaster: “ 

I do not believe that playing video games can affect my studies

, entrusts us this student in Nanjing.

Playing for me is a way to socialize with others

, he says.

It helps me communicate with my dorm mates;

and then, three hours a week is much too short! 

"

Identity document required 

According to the notice published by the Audiovisual Administration, minors will only have the right to 1 hour of play, no more, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

To avoid circumventing the ban, they will have to log in with their identity document.

One way is saying the authorities to fight against the impact of screens on health (addiction,

myopia

and obesity).

For Sun Sun, a student from central China, “

 limiting play time does not improve education, it is an excuse for parents who have missed their children's education.

Before the platforms limited us to 1:30, now it's 1 hour, how far will they go?

 "

Expected or feared

This new regulation was expected or feared.

In early August, a state media spoke of

spiritual opium

 "

of youth, accusing platforms like industry giant Tencent of making the most vulnerable addicted to online games.

A video game market, which generated sales of € 17 billion deal in the first semetsre 2021. This decision also comes as part of

bringing to heel

wider digital industry.

E-commerce, e-services, regulators from all sectors have been busy this summer.

To read also: China: actress Zhao Wei “erased” in the middle of the campaign against “toxic” celebrities

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