China bans online gaming for minors except from 8 pm-9 pm Friday to Sunday

Enlarge / Students practicing computer games in an eSports class at the Lanxiang technical school in Jinan, in China's eastern Shandong province, on January 29, 2018. (credit: Getty Images | AFP | Greg Baker)

China reportedly issued new rules today forbidding minors from playing online video games more than three hours a week, while banning kids from online gaming entirely every Monday to Thursday. While some news reports say the ban applies to all video games, enforcement measures issued by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) primarily target online games and online services related to gaming.

"Gaming companies will be barred from providing services to minors in any form outside the stipulated hours and must ensure they have put real-name verification systems in place, said the regulator, which oversees the country's video games market," a Reuters article said. "Previously, China had limited the length of time under-18s could play video games to 1.5 hours on any day and three hours on holidays under 2019 rules."

People under 18 will reportedly be allowed to play video games only from 8pm to 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays-limiting minors to three hours most weeks and not even letting them choose which three hours. Young people are reportedly prohibited from gaming at any time from Monday to Thursday each week under the new rules, which apply to all devices, including phones.

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