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China Plans To Restrict New Games Coming Into the Country and Limit the Time Kids Spend Online (bloomberg.com)

Posted by msmash on from the up-next dept.

China's regulators plan to curtail the number of online games and discourage play-time, part of a broader effort to tackle device addiction and other ills that sent shares reeling from the U.S. to Japan. From a report: The curbs were just one aspect of a swathe of edicts intended to address the health and growing incidence of myopia among children. But they come on top of a months-long freeze in game approvals, further muddying the waters for an industry that labors under one of the world's most opaque regulatory regimes.

While the new regulations encompassed everything from encouraging outdoor activities to usage of electronics, investors zeroed in on the game curbs during a highly sensitive time for the industry. The government hasn't given any explanation for a freeze on title approvals since March, prompting debate over whether it's a temporary halt due to regulatory reshuffling or whether Beijing is planning a crackdown in a wider campaign against online content. Tencent's inability to monetize its hottest games also cast doubt over the relationship between the world's largest gaming company and the government.

10 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. I mean... by RickyShade · · Score: 1

    Limiting the amount of time kids spend online is a great idea. It's a public health issue. Now the censorship, not so much.

    1. Re:I mean... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      Limiting the amount of time kids spend online is a great idea.

      Gee, now wouldn't it be great if we could offer kids other interesting and fun alternatives, so they wouldn't want to spend so much time online . . . ?

      Oh well . . . kids would probably express their new interests in blackjack, hookers and coke . . .

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:I mean... by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      People might read about democracy, term limits, Tiananmen Square protests. Get to see the date 1989. Find a cartoon bear.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    3. Re:I mean... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Oh well . . . kids would probably express their new interests in blackjack, hookers and coke...

      Drop the coke, add a theme park and then you've got something!

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  2. Yeah, right by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    I was born before the PC was invented, and I got myopia the old-fashioned way: by reading a lot of books! I don't think limiting my screen time would have helped.

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  3. so the apple IOS store and goolge play will be mod by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    so the apple IOS store and google play will be moderated?

  4. isn't it blocked? by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

    Isn't Google playstore blocked in China anyway?

    1. Re:isn't it blocked? by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      well, is your phone blocked there, or do you use your red linux there?

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    2. Re:isn't it blocked? by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

      Buy me a ticket and I'll take it there and check.

  5. Re:Poor kids by dohzer · · Score: 1

    Yes, the poor kids will be restricted. This doesn't apply to the rich ones.