People in China under age 18 are now restricted to three hours of video games a week, the nation's Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. Kids won't even get to choose when they want to play their allotted three hours. They'll only be able to access online games from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. The restrictive new rules are an effort by the Chinese government to curb video game addiction among children.
The government is able to keep tabs on game play, because in China, you're required to use your real name and phone number to log into many online platforms, tying your internet presence to your identity. Rather than monitor children directly, the government mandate requires gaming companies to make sure players are using their real names and block people who try to go log on incognito. Some companies, like Tencent, use facial recognition technology to confirm users are who they say they are.
