China limits children to 3 hours of online gaming per week


PTI, Aug 31, 2021, 9:26 AM IST

Beijing: China is banning children from playing online games for more than three hours a week, the harshest restriction so far on the game industry as Chinese regulators continue cracking down on the technology sector.

Minors in China can only play games between 8 pm to 9 pm on Fridays, weekends and on public holidays starting September 1, according to a notice from the National Press and Publication Administration.

That limits gaming to three hours a week for most weeks of the year, down from a previous restriction set in 2019 that allowed minors to play games for an hour and a half per day and three hours on public holidays.

The new regulation affects some of China’s largest technology companies, including gaming giant Tencent, whose Honor of Kings online multiplayer game is hugely popular globally, as well as gaming company NetEase.

Tencent’s stock price closed down 0.6per cent at 465.80 Hong Kong dollars on Monday ahead of the regulator’s announcement. Its market capitalization of USD573 billion is down more than USD300 billion from its February peak, a decline equal to more than the total value of Nike Inc or Pfizer Inc.

New York-listed NetEase’s stock was down about 9 per cent at the market’s open.

The gaming restrictions are part of an ongoing crackdown on technology companies, amid concerns that technology firms — many of which provide ubiquitous messaging, payments and gaming services — may have an outsized influence on society.

Earlier this month, Tencent said it would limit gaming time for minors to an hour a day and two hours during holidays, as well as ban children under the age of 12 from making in-game purchases.

The company issued the curbs hours after a state-affiliated newspaper criticized the gaming industry and called games “spiritual opium.”

Regulators said in Monday’s notice that they would strengthen supervision and increase the frequency of inspections of online game companies to ensure that they follow the regulations closely.

Chinese authorities in recent months have targeted e-commerce and online education, and have implemented new regulations to curb anti-competitive behaviour after years of rapid growth in the technology sector.

Last month, authorities banned companies that provide tutoring in core school subjects from making a profit, wiping out billions in market value from online education companies such as TAL Education and Gaotu Techedu.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

IPL 2024: Jacks, Kohli power RCB to easy win over GT

18-ft-tall Kali idol carved out of single marble stone to be sent from Jaipur to Kerala temple

Chikkamagaluru: At least 30 injured after tourist mini bus overturns near Datta Peetha

Those who turned down Ram temple invitation will be rejected by voters: PM Modi

Have only resigned as Delhi Congress chief, not joining any political party: Arvinder Singh Lovely

BJP’s Manifesto promises developed India, Congress’s Manifesto fosters division: Rajnath Singh

Congress urges ECI to probe ‘terrible mismanagement’ of Lok Sabha polls in Kerala

Related Articles More

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar appointed as deputy prime minister

Elon Musk in Beijing amid efforts to promote Tesla’s autonomous driving tech

Retrial of Harvey Weinstein unlikely to occur soon, if ever, experts say

Three women from India killed in US car crash; their Gujarat village holds prayer meeting

China says talks on Tibet only with Dalai Lama’s representatives; rules out dialogue on autonomy

MUST WATCH

Skin Rash, Causes, Signs and Symptoms

11 bullets found in python’s body!

K. Jayaprakash Hegde Sharing His Memories

Grafting Jack Anil

Heat Illness


Latest Additions

Some countries, institutions want weak govt to make easy profits: PM Modi

People can talk anything they want to, I know my game better: Virat Kohli on his strike rate

Sexual harassment, stalking case registered against ex-minister H D Revanna and his son Prajwal

Reservation row: Congress campaign ‘biggest lie’ of the decade, says Kishan Reddy

BJP trying religious polarisation in Nagaon: Congress candidate Pradyut Bordoloi

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.