China Has Set New Rules for Children

China has set new rules limiting the amount of time children can play online games.

The restrictions limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.

There has been a growing concern in China about gaming addiction among children. Government reports in 2018 found that about one in 10 Chinese children were addicted to the internet.

The new rules are part of an effort to prevent young people from spending too much time on entertainment that Communist officials consider unhealthy. That includes what officials call the "irrational fan culture" surrounding celebrities.

"Adolescents are the future of the motherland, and protecting the physical and mental health of minors is related to the vital interests of masses," the Press and Publications Administration said in a statement. It is similar to a campaign by Chinese President Xi to create a healthier society for a more powerful China.

Under the new rules, the responsibility for making sure children play only three hours a day falls largely on Chinese gaming companies like NetEase and Tencent. Tencent's highly popular Honor of Kings mobile game is played by tens of millions across the country.

Companies have set up real-name registration systems to prevent young users from going past game time limits. They have used facial recognition technology to confirm their identities. And they have also set up a program that permits people to report violations.

It is unclear what punishments gaming companies may face if they do not enforce the restrictions. And even if such policies are enforced, it is also unclear whether they can prevent online addiction.

Time will tell whether the new rules work. Time is the best proof, it also shows whether we are the most suitable supplier to your company.