China Limits Teens' Video Gaming to Three Hours a Week

China's National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has issued a notice aimed at preventing minors from becoming addicted to online games. From now on, the total time spent in online games should not exceed 3 hours per week for children under 18. They will have one-hour sessions from 8 PM to 9 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Exceptions will also apply to public holidays, state news agency Xinhua reported.

According to the new regulations, teens will only be able to register and enter online games under their real names. The Chinese authorities urge online game providers not to allow those who cannot log in using their real identity to play. These restrictions will apply to online games on any device, including smartphones.

According to an NPPA spokesman, the Chinese minors' passion for online gaming is a serious concern. The department notes that games take away time that kids could spend on things that contribute to their development and growth, like sports or programming. Therefore, parents and their kids can decide how long minors can play any other games that encourage development.

In 2019, teen gamers were allowed to spend up to 1.5 hours every day on online games.