Chinese Gaming Industry Association Advocates for Stricter Regulations on Youth Gaming

The China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, a semi-official trade body for the country's gaming industry, has emphasized the need for more stringent controls on the time and money spent by minors on video games. This call to action was made by the association's secretary general, Ao Ran, during a recent two-day conference in Guangzhou, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Since August 2021, the Chinese government has implemented various restrictions to curb gaming habits among minors due to concerns over addiction. These restrictions include limiting online gaming to three hours per week, imposing monthly spending caps, and prohibiting livestreaming for children under 16. By March 2022, these measures had significantly impacted the industry, with Tencent, China's largest gaming company, reporting an 88% year-over-year decline in total playtime for minors. A committee from the China games industry group noted in November 2022 that 75% of young gamers played for less than three hours per week, suggesting that the issue of gaming addiction among minors had been resolved. Ao stressed that protecting minors is a long-term and fundamental responsibility, requiring the industry to resolutely implement regulatory requirements and explore technical solutions such as facial recognition. He also emphasized the importance of parental involvement in these efforts. During the conference, Tencent's senior director for minor protection, Zheng Zhong, announced that the company would continue to develop innovative forms of protection for minors. Over the years, Tencent has proactively introduced measures such as a 'digital lock' requiring parental consent, daily gameplay limits, and facial recognition checks to prevent children from playing late at night. While restrictions on youth gaming appear to be tightening, other limitations seem to be easing, with China granting publishing licenses to 175 game titles since the start of 2023, following a nine-month freeze on game approvals.