China Takes Aim at Video Games Amidst Rise in Gaming Addiction

Investment conglomerate Tencent's stocks plummeted on Friday after Chinese authorities released a statement the previous day citing video games as a reason for the sharp rise of adolescent nearsightedness. Japanese game makers, including giant Konami, also took a hit in the market, with their shares dropping significantly.

The statement suggests that the Chinese government is due to enforce restrictions on online video games, including regulating Chinese users gain access to different games using stricter age restrictions. It is no secret that the Chinese government holds an aversion to video games; Tencent's Monster Hunter: World was blocked from being sold due to its gory nature and its Honor of Kings has been previously called "poison to young minds" by the People's Daily.

The news follows a fairly recent epidemic of video game-addiction amongst Chinese youth, which has risen sharply in the past decade. China's relationship with video games has been rocky to say the least, rife with tragic stories such as running away from home or even death. One study found that 18 percent of Chinese youths could be at risk of video game-addiction, leading the Communist Party to impose game-duration restrictions on certain video games.

READ: Video Game Developer Valve to Launch its Steam Software Platform in China

Video game addiction rehabilitation camps, which have attracted controversy for their harsh military-style boot camp methods, are on the rise, with Beijing-based camp claiming a 75 percent success rate in curing teens and young adults of their internet and gaming addiction problems.

More recently, a Chinese broadcasting ban on the 2018 Asian Games eSports events were overshadowed by China's own success, the team's nation topping the eSports medal table and outlining the fickle relationship between government and more professional groups dedicated to the pursuit.

The seemingly infinite Chinese video game market might take a tumble due to these new government statements and proposed regulations, however, only time will tell. In light of news that a one-year-old girl drowned in Fujian last week while her mother texted on her phone, it's safe to say that the dangers of technology, gaming-related or otherwise, may reach further than kids and their eyesight.

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