Recently, the National Press and Publication Administration issued the Measures for the Administration of Online Games (Draft for Solicitation of Comments), which puts forward a series of norms and requirements for the content, operation, and supervision of online games, aiming to prevent minors from becoming addicted to online games, maintain the order of the online game market, and promote the healthy development of online games. This draft has aroused widespread attention and heated discussions from all walks of life, with some people believing that this is a major positive for the online game industry, while others are worried that it will affect the innovation and vitality of online games. So, what are the highlights and controversies of this draft?And what will be the impact on the online gaming industry and teenagers?(*The Paper).
Online games are a very interesting form of cultural entertainment, which allows us to experience all kinds of adventures and challenges in the virtual world. In China, online games have become a very hot industry and market, and more and more people like to play online games. In 2020, China's online game market sold 278.6 billion yuan of games, 20 percent more than in 20197%；The number of people who play online games also reaches 65.4 billion, 10 more than in 20193%。Online games not only bring us joy, but also make China's culture and digital economy stronger.
However, there are also some disadvantages of online games that require our attention and improvement.
The content of some online games is not suitable, for example, some games are too violent and bloody, or some games have different values from our socialist values, which will affect the environment and quality of our online culture.
There are also some online games that are not very fair to play, for example, some games will use some rewards to ** us, let us spend a lot of money to buy some virtual things, or let us consume irrationally, which will make us, especially children who have not grown up, addicted to online games, forget to study, live and health, and even encounter some serious problems such as online ** and gambling.
In order to solve the problems and risks of online games, some departments of the state have done a lot of work to regulate and manage online games from various aspects.
In 2019, the state issued a "Standard for the Development of Online Game Anti-Addiction System", which requires online game companies to establish an anti-addiction system to limit the amount of time minors can play games and the amount of money they spend.
In 2020, the state issued another "Notice on Further Strict Management and Effectively Preventing Minors from Becoming Addicted to Online Games", which shortened the time for minors to play games every week.
Five, week. 6. Sundays and public holidays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., up to 1 hour per day. It also requires online game companies to strengthen real-name authentication, improve the effectiveness of anti-addiction systems, and increase penalties for violations.
In order to allow online games to better serve the society, the National Press and Publication Administration, after listening to the opinions of all parties, formulated a "Measures for the Administration of Online Games (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)", and publicly solicited everyone's opinions on December 22, 2023. The draft has six chapters and 36 articles, mainly including the following aspects:
First, it clarifies what online games are, what types of online games there are, and what are the responsibilities of operators, developers, and publishers of online games.
At the same time, it stipulates that online games must apply for a license before they are launched, and after they are launched, they must be recorded, and the content and security of the game must be reviewed and evaluated to ensure that the game complies with laws, regulations and social morality.
Second, it stipulates that online games should protect users' reasonable consumption rights and interests, and users should not be induced to spend money by various means.
For example, online games can't be set to give rewards when you log in every day, or give good things when you recharge for the first time, or get better things when you recharge continuously, etc.
Online games also do not allow or encourage users to buy and sell virtual props with **, such as buying equipment, pets, characters, etc. in the game with real money. Online games also need to set an upper limit for users to recharge, not allowing users to recharge money without restrictions, and to tell users what this upper limit is in the rules of the game.
If the user's consumption behavior is unreasonable, such as charging a lot of money at one time, or charging many times a month, the online game should pop up a window to remind the user to pay attention to rational consumption and not blindly follow the trend.
Third, it stipulates that online games should protect the physical and mental health of minors, and minors should not be allowed to indulge in games.
For example, online games should limit the amount of time minors can play and spend money on a daily and monthly basis, and minors should not be allowed to play games that are not suitable for them, such as violence, pornography, gambling, etc.
Online games should also establish a parental monitoring platform, so that parents can understand and control the gaming situation of minors, such as seeing which games minors play, how long they have played, how much money they have spent, and setting some restrictions, such as prohibiting minors from playing certain games, or limiting minors' game time and consumption limits, etc.
Online games should also strengthen the educational guidance and psychological counseling of minors, so that minors understand that games are only a form of entertainment, not the whole of life, and that time should be reasonably arranged, and study and life should be put first.
Fourth, it stipulates that online games must be subject to social supervision and management, and must not violate laws, regulations, and social morality.
For example, the National Press and Publication Administration should establish a credit evaluation system for online games, evaluate the operation of online games, and score online games, so that users can clearly know which games are good and which are bad.
The State Press and Publication Administration should also strengthen the inspection and punishment of online games, and if it is found that online games have violated laws and regulations, such as providing unhealthy content, inducing users to consume excessively, violating users' privacy, etc., it should promptly rectify them, or give warnings, fines, suspension of business, revocation of licenses, and so on.
The National Press and Publication Administration should also encourage the public and the public to supervise and report online games, and if any problems with online games are found, they can report to the National Press and Publication Administration through **, email, **, etc., and the National Press and Publication Administration should investigate and deal with it in a timely manner.
The National Press and Publication Administration should also support the self-discipline and innovation of the online game industry, so that online game practitioners can abide by the norms of the industry, improve the quality of online games, and develop more games that are beneficial to society.
Measures for the Administration of Online Games (Draft for Solicitation of Comments) has come out, which is a major move by the state for the online game industry and a great concern for our young people. Let's take a look at the characteristics and significance of this draft from a social point of view
First of all, it makes online games more cultural and socially significant.
Online games are not just something to play, but also something to spread culture. It should not only let us have fun, but also let us learn the core values of socialism, advanced socialist culture, and excellent traditional Chinese culture, so that we can feel positive energy and beauty on the Internet.
This draft has clear requirements and standards for the content and form of online games, so as not to allow online games to become a breeding ground for vulgar, violent, pornographic and other bad things, and also leaves enough space and support for the innovation and diversification of online games.
Secondly, it makes online games more disciplined and orderly.
Online games are not only a cultural thing, but also an economic thing. It should not only allow game companies to make money, but also allow gamers to consume reasonably, abide by laws and ethics, and maintain fairness, integrity and legality in the online game market.
This draft has clear rules and measures for the operation and supervision of online games, preventing online games from having bad business practices such as our reward mechanism, sky-high trading of virtual items, and our blind consumption, and also providing guarantees and incentives for the development and growth of online games.
Finally, it makes online games more educational and responsible.
Online games are not only an economic thing, but also an educational thing. It not only allows us to learn and be interested, but also allows us to develop healthy habits and correct values to protect our physical and mental health and normal growth.
This draft has clear requirements and measures for the protection of our minors in online games, preventing us from being addicted to online games and neglecting our studies, life and health, and also providing us with more educational guidance and psychological counseling to help us form good Internet habits and Internet literacy.