Mainland Cuts Time Children Can Spend On Online Games

Chinese regulators on Monday slashed the amount of time players under the age of 18 can spend on online games to an hour of gameplay on Fridays, weekends and holidays, in response to growing concern over gaming addiction.

The rules, published by the National Press and Publication Administration, said users under the age of 18 will only be able to play games from 8pm to 9pm on those days, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Online gaming companies will be barred from providing gaming services to them in any form outside those hours and need to ensure they have put real name verification systems in place, said the regulator, which oversees the country's video games market.

Previously, the mainland limited the total length of time minors could access online games to three hours on holiday or 1.5 hours on other days.

The National Press and Publication Administration also told Xinhua it would increase the frequency and intensity of inspections for online gaming companies to ensure they were putting in place time limits and anti-addiction systems. (Reuters)