China has barred online gamers under the age of 18 from playing video games during the school week, and one hour a day on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.
On Monday China issued a strict new restraining measure for gaming the authorities describe as youth videogame addiction, which they blame for a host of societal ills, including distracting young people from school and family responsibilities.
The NPPA noted this week that the rules were being issued “at the beginning of the new school semester, putting specific requirements for preventing the addiction to online games, and protecting the healthy growth of minors.”
Investors were quick to react. NetEase slumped 3.4% during regular trading hours in New York on Monday. Tencent suffered roughly the same drop in Hong Kong on Tuesday before ticking back up 1.6%.
The government announcement said all online video games will be required to connect to an “anti-addiction” system operated by the National Press and Publication Administration.
The regulation, which takes effect on Wednesday, will require all users to register using their real names and government-issued identification documents.
That statement came after a newspaper owned by Xinhua published a lengthy analysis that used terms such as “spiritual opium” and “electronic drug” to describe the harmful effects of gaming on children.
The new rules prompted an outcry on Chinese social media, where many users complained that they were too strict.
