China on Monday announced strict new rules that will ban children from playing online games during weekdays and limit them to just three hours per week.
Variety reported that the rules were unveiled by the National Press and Publication Administration in order to curb gaming addiction among teenagers, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Gamers aged below 18 will be limited to one hour of online game play, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in normal weeks. They will also be allowed to play on statutory public holidays, said the publication.
Current rules allow for 90 minutes of playing per day and three hours on public holidays.
With regard to the “Notice on Further Strict Management and Practically Preventing Minors from Indulging in Online Games” issued by the National Press and Publication Administration, Tencent expressed its firm support and will make every effort to implement the relevant requirements of the “Notice” as soon as possible.
“As a member of the Chinese game industry, Tencent has consciously established and improved the anti-addiction mechanism for minors since 2017, and has actively promoted the exploration and application of various new technologies, new functions, and new measures in this field,” said Tencent.
“In the future, based on the latest regulations of the competent authorities, Tencent will further pay attention to and invest in the protection and development of minors.”
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