网游总量调控新规 (wǎngyóu zǒngliàng tiáokòng xīnguī): New regulation to control the quantity of online games

Eight departments including the Ministry of Education have jointly issued an announcement on implementing supply-side reform of the game industry as part of the plan to comprehensively prevent minors from becoming shortsighted. According to the document, the authorities will control the quantity of online games released, establish an age restriction system for online games that is in accordance with China's actual situation, and restrict the amount of time minors can spend in playing online games.

This move is in response to a national campaign to curb the rise of shortsightedness among children and teenagers so they enjoy a "bright future", which will be conducive to not only their healthy growth but also the nation's future.

According to China Internet Network Information Center's China Internet Development Report, issued on January, 2017, China's juvenile netizens aged 19 and below reached 170 million, which accounts for 23.4 percent of China's overall netizens.

How to regulate the online game industry to protect children's healthy growth is a topic that has drawn wide public concern. Restricting youngsters from spending too much time playing online games and stopping children from becoming addicted to them concern both the authorities and the public. The new policy aims to regulate and control the online game industry to protect children's eyesight as well as their healthy development.