□ Our reporter Zhao Li
□ Intern Zhao Jingyi of this newspaper
Skydiving, landing, ambush, head-to-head confrontation... On July 30, an ordinary afternoon in the summer vacation, Li Yangyang (pseudonym) stared at the screen of his mobile phone, operated with both hands, recited words in his mouth, led his teammates to charge into battle in an online game, and finally won another round .
According to relevant regulations, this time period should not be the online game time for this Beijing boy who is about to enter the second grade of junior high school.
On August 30 last year, at the end of the summer vacation, the State Press and Publication Administration issued the "Notice on Further Strict Management and Effectively Preventing Minors from Indulging in Online Games" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), making it clear that all online game companies can 5. One hour service is provided to minors from 20:00 to 21:00 every day on Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays.
In the first summer vacation after the "travel restriction order", a reporter from the "Rules of Law Daily" recently investigated and found that the review of the anti-addiction system of online game platforms has become stricter, and many e-commerce platforms have increased the control over the sale and lease of game accounts, which limits the restrictions to a certain extent. Minors are addicted to online games; at the same time, there are still some minors who have broken through the anti-addiction system or face verification by renting or buying accounts on social platforms, and plunged into the world of online games, unable to extricate themselves.
Zheng Ning, director of the Law Department of the School of Cultural Industry Management, Communication University of China, believes that although the competent authorities continue to issue policies to limit the length of time minors can use games, there are still shortcomings in the use of anti-addiction intervention mechanisms by parents, schools, and society. The problem of minors being addicted to games has not been fundamentally resolved.
The online black and gray industry has taken a fancy to this part of the demand and provided related services to seek economic benefits, which needs to be rectified urgently.
E-commerce platform transaction control
Renting a number and buying a number is no longer easy
From 2020 to 2021, reporters have repeatedly reported on the problem of minors being addicted to online games, and found that some e-commerce platforms sell, rent game accounts, and even sell ID numbers, which has become one of the important ways for minors to avoid the online game addiction prevention system.
During the summer vacation this year, the reporter found that there are still a lot of cases of selling and renting game accounts on e-commerce platforms. However, due to the platform's strengthened supervision, minors who want to "break through" the anti-addiction system are restricted.
The reporter tried to rent a game account on a Pindan e-commerce platform, but to place an order for such products on the platform, you need to fill in the real-name authentication information first, which is in line with "users over 18 years old".
On another e-commerce platform, if you directly search for "rental account", the "Guardian Green Network Program for Minors" will pop up at the top of the page, which stipulates that users who have been authenticated by their real names and are ≤18 years old are prohibited from purchasing online game accounts.
Entering a number of related stores on the e-commerce platform, the reporter found that the “baby details” page of the store has “consumption reminders” automatically generated by the platform: according to relevant national laws and regulations and platform rules, you must be at least 18 years old to purchase online game products.
A number of related stores show that the process of renting an account is as follows: players choose accounts with different price points and different rental durations according to the mobile phone system and operator; players download the "number-upper" or "game box" software, and use the password given by customer service to "unlock" account" to start the game.
However, the above process "intercepts" minors - the use of the "number device" must pass an independent real-name authentication of the name and ID number.
When the reporter asked the customer service how to skip the real-name authentication, the platform automatically popped up a reminder that "minors are prohibited from purchasing", and some customer service clearly stated that such services would not be sold to minors.
Even if you use the "number-upper" to jump into the game through adult identity authentication, the reporter found in the process of playing the game that the online game platform will jump out of the anti-addiction system to intercept and require face recognition authentication.
In addition, the reporter's investigation found that the previous methods of binding "overnight ID cards" and "stealing" ID card numbers to "break through" the anti-addiction system no longer seem to work.
In the Internet Post Bar, a studio issued a document claiming to be able to crack face authentication.
After contacting the reporter, the reporter learned that the cracking plan given by the other party is: make an overnight adult information coverage.
That is, the identity information used by the user in the game is changed to the identity card information of the overnight adult, "if it is changed, it is 150 yuan".
After the reporter paid 150 yuan, the other party demanded money for various reasons such as the strict review of the online game platform, the false ID card failed to pass the authentication, the need to use a real ID card, and the other party thought the price was too low.
The reporter asked for a refund, and the other party directly blocked the reporter.
Insiders said that the so-called "cracking" actually means using the ID card information of adults instead of directly cracking the game system itself. "Those who can crack the system may be fraudulent."
The so-called "stealing" ID card is that some website platforms provide a large number of ID card numbers, or can generate virtual ID card numbers for game use.
However, the reporter selected multiple ID numbers provided by 3 websites, and they could not pass the real-name authentication after entering them in the online game.
The hidden mystery of social platforms
Play games in the name of booster
Although the way to buy game accounts on some large e-commerce platforms is gradually blocked, it is not difficult for minors to have an adult game account.
The reporter's investigation found that on social platforms, many popular online games have channels for players to trade by themselves. Users can rent and buy accounts without identity authentication, and some people even ask for help to crack the anti-addiction system or people. face verification.
Compared with the need to pass many "tests" for purchasing and leasing on e-commerce platforms, this "1V1" communication method makes the transaction between the two parties more "direct".
A user posted in a game super chat that there are two accounts that can be rented. After the reporter added his contact information, the other party said that he could rent by the hour, one day and one week, and the charging standard was 6 yuan per hour, 20 yuan per day, and 66 yuan per week, both direct transfer and "going through an intermediary" are available.
Regarding the real-name authentication issue that the reporter was worried about, the other party said that the renter does not need any authentication: the renter only needs to click "scan code to log in" in the lower left corner of the login interface, select the social account to authorize the login, and send a screenshot of the pop-up QR code. Login to the account owner to enter the game.
The reporter rented for two hours and was not subject to any restrictions during login and use.
During the interview, a number of parents and minors told reporters that some minors provided paid power leveling services for others, and spent a lot of time and energy on upgrading characters in online games. , proud of it.
The reporter found a minor power trainer on a social platform, and the personal information column shows that he is 17 years old this year.
The power trainer said that in school, he can only take orders at night, and he can take orders all day during the holidays.
The fee depends on the needs of the "boss". A rank ranges from 20 yuan to 40 yuan. You can "walk the platform", that is, complete the transaction through a third-party trading platform.
According to industry insiders, there is currently a relatively mature operating system for boosting and playing with players, that is, a "club" - a group of people who have their own characteristics and good service attitudes and play the same games. A social group composed of corresponding administrators, the administrators are called "directors", and players who purchase boosting or accompanying services are called "bosses".
The "director" will find players who need to boost and accompany players on the dating platform that provides game accompaniment, and will send the order to the booster after taking a certain commission.
The reporter downloaded two dating software that provided games to play with, and found that there was no age limit when registering these two software.
The above-mentioned industry insiders told reporters that the "club" where they are located generally only allows adults to train and play with them, and it is clearly required not to accept orders from underage players, otherwise they will be kicked out of the "club", "but there are indeed many" The club' doesn't have such a rule."
Some parents are in the dark
The dangers of addiction are obvious
Li Yangyang told reporters that he and his classmates are not restricted to play games and have their own "coups", and his method is simple and straightforward - using his father's ID card to register the game, and let his father take a look (face recognition) when playing, and he will pass," My dad probably doesn't know why he keeps asking him to take a look."
The son of Beijing citizen Liu Min (pseudonym) is in the sixth grade and is also addicted to online games this summer.
"He took the cell phone that his grandfather eliminated before, downloaded several online games, and played online with his classmates." What puzzled Liu Min was how the child avoided the new anti-addiction regulations without an ID card. , "Don't all have real-name authentication? Are there loopholes in these game platforms?"
After careful observation, Liu Min found the answer - looking for grandpa in the same way as Li Yangyang.
The reporter found that using the parent's ID card to register the game is the most common, most convenient and cheapest method for underage players.
Among them, some parents let it go, and some are unaware and kept in the dark.
Some parents say that it is rare for children to relax in summer, and it is not bad to play more games.
Some children are looked after by the elderly, who only need to eat and clothe themselves, regardless of the problem of Internet access.
Some parents shouted "wrongful" and said that their children used face recognition as the reason for learning needs, but they did not expect to play games.
There are also parents who say they don't know the rules for preventing addiction among teenagers.
The "Progress Report on the Protection of Minors in China's Game Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report") released on November 5, 2021 shows that after the "Notice" came into effect, 85.8% of minors had been restricted from addiction prevention while playing games. .
Among them, 42.8% of minors have directly asked their parents for ID cards, and even 11.3% of the parents did not understand the purpose of minors asking for ID cards.
According to previous media reports, Mr. Yu, who lives in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, claimed that his card was short of 75,000 yuan. After checking the consumption records, he found that there were more than 200 game recharge expenses. After interrogation, it turned out that his 13-year-old son spent the recharge.
Before, every time my son asked him to scan his face, he would cooperate.
The dangers of indulging in online games are obvious.
Xi Peizhi, deputy secretary general of the Juvenile Law Research Association of the Shanghai Law Society, has conducted in-depth research on the reasons why minors are addicted to online games.
He told reporters that some game merchants will set the addictive mechanism in the game when developing online games, such as designing beautiful game skins and interactive mechanisms, allowing players to fight as a team and enhancing stickiness; The game is so addicting, they exchange game content every day, and they cannot integrate into the group without participating in the game.
"Minors addicted to online games will not only lead to a decline in their academic performance, but also have a huge impact on their minds and emotions. For example, minors will imitate violent and bloody behaviors in games." Xi Peizhi introduced him to the reporter. In a case I have come into contact with, a 17-year-old child played CS (Counter-Strike) games in an Internet cafe for 3 consecutive days. When he went out to eat, he had a conflict with others. He picked up the stool beside him and smashed it on the other's head. and beat each other repeatedly.
Afterwards, he said he had mistakenly thought he was still in the game.
In this regard, Liu Min felt the same way. After his son became addicted to online games, not only did his academic performance plummet, but his eyesight also plummeted, and his ability to respond and understand plummeted. Autistic and unwilling to communicate with others.”
Li Yangyang's sister found that "Li Yangyang's summer life seems to be only playing games, and he doesn't watch the time at all, and people are becoming more and more introverted."
Governance network black and gray production chain
Home-school linkage strengthens supervision
How to solve the problem of minors addicted to online games?
According to the statistics of the "Report", 54.8% of parents hope to understand and control their children's game status by directly monitoring the playing time of minors or developing mobile phone management software.
In fact, many game companies have established parental monitoring platforms, but relevant data shows that only about 20% of parents have joined the monitoring platforms, and a large number of parents have not joined or have never heard of such platforms. fully functional.
Zheng Ning proposed to strengthen the rectification of online black and gray products such as game account leasing and trading.
"Whether it is game account leasing, trading and other services on e-commerce platforms, or account leasing or selling between individuals on social platforms, there are actually different degrees of illegality."
He analyzed that the Cybersecurity Law stipulates that my country implements the real-name system on the Internet. Network operators handle services such as network access and domain name registration for users. When signing agreements with users or confirming the provision of services, users should be required to provide real identity information.
At the same time, circumventing the real-name authentication and anti-addiction system violates the Cybersecurity Law and the Minor Protection Law, and may also lead to illegal and criminal acts such as personal information leakage and online fraud.
"In addition to policy guidance and legal regulations, in order to truly prevent minors from indulging in online games, the joint attention and efforts of parents and schools are also required. Parents must fulfill their guardianship duties, control the time and authority of minors to access the Internet, and can communicate with their children. Jointly formulate a family online convention, and strengthen the effective companionship of minors." Zheng Ning said that schools and parents should also work together, and at the same time strengthen the education of minors' online literacy, and guide young people to allocate time reasonably; the government, schools, society Public welfare organizations should increase investment, provide high-quality public resources, let children embrace nature, improve aesthetics, and broaden their horizons.
"Family is the first line of defense for cybersecurity. Children's free time to use the Internet is mainly at home. The protection of minors is a social governance issue, not just a technical issue. If we only focus on technical issues, we cannot fundamentally To solve this problem. Technology is the foundation, but education is the key." Xi Peizhi said.
In addition to the necessary supervision, some experts reminded that some children have withdrawn from the state of daily exposure to online games in the past. During the transitional stage, psychological and behavioral discomfort may occur, and parents need to be enlightened and prevented accordingly.
It is worth noting that, according to the previously released "2020 National Research Report on Internet Usage of Minors", there are some differences in the content selection and duration of Internet use by minors in urban and rural areas.
Urban minor netizens use more search engines, social networking sites, news, shopping and other applications, while rural minor netizens use a higher proportion of leisure and entertainment such as short videos, animations or comics than in urban areas.
In this regard, Xi Peizhi suggested that education and guidance for rural minors and their parents should be strengthened, and schools in rural areas should also take more measures to prevent minors from indulging in online games.