China Mandates Parental Controls For Online Games

eldavojohn writes "The quintessential nanny state is tightening its grip on online gaming a little further today, as it announced that starting March 1st, 'online game companies must set up a web page, enquiry hotline and other special channels for parental supervision of their children. Besides, these companies shall authorize parents, who want to monitor and control their children playing online games, to take measures to limit or ban the playing. Also, the online game companies shall provide help to parents in supervising their children's online game accounts and preventing them from playing improper games, as part of the project.' If you're a parent, the new effort by the Ministry of Culture has surprisingly specific recommendations for how to regulate your child's gaming: 'The document suggested a school student play online games for less than two hours every week and spend no more than 10 yuan ($1.5) on playing online games every month.' The article (from the state media) ends with amusing speculation that the youth will simply acquire a fake adult ID to get back online. Stay tuned for more rules and regulations from China's new 'Parental Watch Project.'"

Comments

nanny state

[BradleyUffner]

Is it really a "nanny state" kind of action if it is giving power and control to the parents?

Re:nanny state

[EdIII]

Is it really a "nanny state" kind of action if it is giving power and control to the parents?

No it isn't. Children have no rights of any kind and they are not citizens. Your parents have your rights on your behalf. Used to piss me off something awful when I was a kid, but I am a little more understanding of the situation now.

There are plenty of regulations that make perfect sense regarding children and toys. I sincerely doubt the requirements for child safety and stuff, like you know, no toxic lead in toys is seen as the government being a "nanny" state.

This is merely an extension of that. The government is not outright banning anything, but simply mandating some features which seem entirely optional on the part of the parents.

Speaking for my family, boy can I tell you the lengths we go with technology to keep some of my little relatives off games when they are being punished or playing too much. Having a helping hand from the online companies is quite welcome and I don't see it as part of a nanny state, but a needed feature of their service to *ME*. After all, I am the one really paying for it, one way or the other, both financially and as a parent.

I wonder...

[orphiuchus]

I wonder if all of those quiet Chinese kids in college were quiet because they didn't speak english, or if it was just because they spent the previous 19 years of their life not allowed to look up from their homework so they had no idea how to interact with people.