News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by ohyes on Monday August 30, 2021 @02:43PM (#28359324)
As a man, I don't want to hear about your video-game exploits either. I play, but I definitely don't want to define my personality or hear/tell stories about it.

I think the difference is that a video-game is (as you said and viewed by me at least) as mostly consumptive rather than creative or constructive. I'm playing a game I know I'm dicking around and wasting time, the same as if I'm watching a movie or (even) reading a book for fun.

I'd say that some games are more constructive, like Minecraft or other games where you're building something or creating a story yourself... but I think what's being targeted is largely RNG lootbox online grind games. There's also an argument that top tier professional gaming isn't really that much different than being good at some other sport... and that's kind of an unfortunate side-effect.

The title is a bit misleading as there's no provision for 'offline' games.

Culturally for me... regulating media time seems like a parent's responsibility, and maybe this does give parents the tools to do that as the child could use their parent's account with their permission fairly easily.

I'd be against a similar thing where I live, but as I am not a Chinese citizen nor do I plan on living there, I can't say my opinion is worth much.

However, I think people are making this out to be much worse than it is as there's (for a long time) been a provision that children under a certain age can't sign up for online accounts (in the US) without a parent's explicit permission (with the implication that that the parent takes responsibility for monitoring the child's activity). This makes that implication more explicit as the child must use the parent's account most of the time.

This is one way of solving the 'online games have predatory practices against children / teens,' I don't think this is how I'd solve it, but again, not really my business.

Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by true_religion on Monday August 30, 2021 @03:07PM (#28359620)
So I ski. I don’t really define my life or personality around skiing, but I would be a little miffed if I could only ski for 3 hours a week in the winter because the government thinks I’m not being productive enough.

For children, it’s common to participate in sports for way more than 3 hours a week, and yet the government does not feel inclined to involve itself there.

Allowing leisure time to be dictated by the government is not a good path to go down.

No matter the health benefits, allowing people to go down a suboptimal path that makes them happier is the essence of a free society.

Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by xtian on Monday August 30, 2021 @04:09PM (#28360312)
Actually the Chinese government is cracking down on excessive homework and after-school tutoring programs since they create an overly competitive academic environment and prevent kids from participating in activities like sports. So they are getting involved there. https://asiatimes.com/2021/07/chinas-private-tutor-ban-kills...
Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by BobJackienine on Tuesday August 31, 2021 @05:44AM (#28365781)
That piece reads like a big propaganda ad it says they want kids to not be in school so that they can "play more and work out" Which is exactly what the government is banning playing. Seems to me that they just want these kids to work or "help out on the farm" as Americans say. Which is totally fine with me humans should start working as kids to prepare them doesn't make sense that you wait till you're 20 to start working.
Re:China has forbidden under-18s from playing games for more... by xtian on Wednesday September 01, 2021 @02:02PM (#28383444)
Seems to you based on what?