Chinese children are only allowed to play video games on weekends.

Specifically, children under 18 are only allowed to play online games between 8 and 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This tightening of online gaming restrictions reflects the Chinese government's intensified efforts to eliminate what it considers unhealthy for the development of teenagers.

Previously, according to regulations announced in 2019, children under 18 in China were allowed to play online games for 90 minutes on weekdays and about 3 hours a day on weekends. However, recently, authorities have reported that many parents have complained that some teenagers are becoming addicted to video games, seriously affecting their studies, physical health, and mental well-being.

Online gaming has been one of the most vibrant and profitable sectors of China's internet industry, generating billions in revenue from paying players. However, this has also increased pressure on online game companies to more strictly comply with the Chinese government's cultural appropriateness requirements.

Khanh Ha