China’s new gaming rules for minors a ‘dark cloud’ for big tech

China has announced strict new rules – cutting the amount of time that minors will be allowed to spend playing online games

China is limiting teenagers to just three hours of online gaming a week, in a move aimed at tackling gaming addiction among youths.

Minors will only be allowed to play online games between 8 and 9 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as on public holidays.

Gaming platforms will now be required to have real name verification systems in place

The announcement was made by the National Press and Publication Administration, as part of a push to prevent video game addiction – amid concerns over the damage it is doing to the health of children.

China’s Tencent recently tightened controls for children after a state-owned media publication labelling online gaming as “opium for the mind”

The strict new rules are part of a widening tech crackdown by Beijing, which tech analyst Dan Ives says has cast a black cloud over the tech sector

Chinese children had been banned from playing video games after 10pm – and for no longer than 90 minutes on weekdays.

Now they will only be permitted to play for 3 hours per week.