Developmental and Family Implications of State-Controlled Video Game Play in China

No evidence that Chinese playtime mandates reduced heavy gaming in one segment of the video games industry

“…There is debate in the literature regarding whether China’s top-down control of playtime is likely to promote the health and wellbeing of young people 49 , 73 , 75 . This paper suggests there might be a more fundamental underlying issue with such policies: they may be ineffective at causing intended changes to behaviour.…”

“…In addition to the debate on whether playtime impacts wellbeing, these restrictions have raised questions about their efficacy. Some have suggested that restricting playtime may simply lead to minors bypassing regulations, for example, by accessing games which do not or need not comply with regulations, using virtual private networks (VPNs) that make an individual’s location appear to not lie within Mainland China, or simply using an adult friend or relative’s account 38 , 46 , 49 . Little is known about whether this is the case: under the 2019 regulations, game companies were individually tasked with monitoring playtime among their underage users, and restricting playtime accordingly, but their playtime data has not been made available to independent researchers 6 .…”

No evidence that Chinese playtime mandates reduced heavy gaming in one segment of the video games industry

“…https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01669-8 that make an individual's location appear to not lie within Mainland China, or simply using an adult friend or relative's account 38,46,49 . Little is known about whether this is the case: under the 2019 regulations, game companies were individually tasked with monitoring playtime among their underage users, and restricting playtime accordingly, but their playtime data has not been made available to independent researchers 6 .…”

Reserve your judgment on “Draconian” Chinese video gaming restrictions on children •

“…In addition, it is not known whether this reduction has led to any positive consequences (besides the already evident loot box consumer protection benefits detailed below), e.g. , reduced prevalence of myopia amongst young people ( Rose et al., 2008 ) and more time spent engaging in physical social activities ( Király, Browne, & Demetrovics, 2022 ), studying, or exercising outdoors (some of these were identified and cited by the NPPA as the regulatory intent ( 国家新闻出版署 [National Press and Publication Administration (PRC)], 2021b) ). Those potential positive consequences might outweigh the negative concerns.…”

“…Attention should also be given to how young PRC adults would adapt to the sudden disapplication of the restrictions upon attaining the age of majority (which likely is also a time when they gain increasing independence and receive less parental supervision, e.g., attending university in another city across the country). In addition, it is not known whether this reduction has led to any positive consequences (besides the already evident loot box consumer protection benefits detailed below), e.g., reduced prevalence of myopia amongst young people (Rose et al, 2008) and more time spent engaging in physical social activities (Király, Browne, & Demetrovics, 2022), studying, or exercising outdoors (some of these were identified and cited by the NPPA as the regulatory intent (国家新闻出版署 [National Press and Publication Administration (PRC)], 2021b)). Those potential positive consequences might outweigh the negative concerns.…”