China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more than three hours/week

Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by rank0 on Monday August 30, 2021 @01:50PM (#28358648)

Lots of others ITT are expressing the same view, and I understand the logic behind it.

Alcohol is an addictive, psychoactive, carcinogen. The difference between drugs and “online game time” is pretty stark from my perspective.

The essence of your argument seems to be: “we already give up some control for other health-related regulations and online game time is no different.”

I have to admit, drawing the exact line is difficult and I’m unable to create a clear definition of government overreach. This specific example is obvious to me, but clearly some people disagree.

Where do you think the line should be? Would you be okay with CCP mandated exercise, sleep time, or diet? Do you believe there should be a line at all?

Not trying to be adversarial here, I am genuinely curious.

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Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by solatic on Monday August 30, 2021 @04:27PM (#28360504)

> Alcohol is an addictive, psychoactive, carcinogen. The difference between drugs and “online game time” is pretty stark from my perspective.

Requires elaboration. When "online game time" is intentionally designed to be addictive, its affects on addicts need to be critically examined - loss of physical fitness, loss of social fitness, loss of motivation, agoraphobia. That both can be consumed responsibly in small quantities does not preclude that addiction is a serious problem and too often not treated like a serious problem in Western countries.

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Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by occamrazor on Monday August 30, 2021 @03:21PM (#28359750)

The state mandates physical exercise for children in many countries (PE classes) and most people support it.

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Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by jpambrun on Monday August 30, 2021 @03:09PM (#28359652)

This line is indeed hard to define. I am not sure that such a limit would be enforceable even in China. However, it will have the side effect of making time gated games and other addicting dark patterns illegal or impractical, which it probably a net good thing.

To your last question, many jurisdictions are making fast food or sugary drinks illegal thus imposing a diet. I am fine with that. Some company are lowering health premium to those who do exercise, imposing exercise. I am fine with that too..

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Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by yuy910616 on Monday August 30, 2021 @01:53PM (#28358691)

I don't think a perfect line exist - a perfect line that maximizes a country's output, for example. Laffer curve is real.

But it's more of a experiment - life is an experiment.

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