Chinese Government bans teenagers from Internet cafés

By Games Industry.biz Published 16 February, 2006

In a bid to crack down on MMOs.

Teenagers are to be banned from Internet cafes in China as part of a Government-led initiative to prevent young people from being exposed to "immoral and harmful content."

The ban also extends to karaoke bars and discos as the Government attempts to crack down on "audio and video products and electronic games" which "harm national security and incite hatred toward other nationalities," as reported by the Xinhua News Agency. The ban will go into effect on March 1st.

According to the Associated Press, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao stated: "With the development of the Internet, there has been some harmful and illegal content. The Chinese Government has adopted some management measures so as to limit the immoral and harmful content, especially for young people."

This is not the first time China has attempted to crack down on Internet gaming - last year the Government launched an initiative to restrict the amount of time players spent online to three hours. But according to reports, gamers have been circumventing the new rules by playing as different characters or playing alternative games once the time limit is up.

There is a huge market for MMORPGs in China - more than 1.5 million people have signed up for World of Warcraft, for example, since the game launched there last June. In November, the Government backed a survey which claimed that 13 per cent of the country's young people are addicted to online gaming.

Picture of Games.

About Games Industry.biz

Read more articles from Games by visiting the Games Industry.biz archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (60) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SeesThroughAll #1 6 years ago

    Typical in opressive governments. Punish instead of educating.

  • Freek #2 6 years ago

    "With the development of the Internet, there has been some harmful and illegal content. The Chinese Government has adopted some management measures so as to limit the immoral and harmful content, especially for young people."

    We should hook these spin doctors up to a dynamo and use the power of bullshit to solve the world energy crisis! ;)

    You'd have that guy power the East, and the Whitehouse press secretary power the West. We'd just have to keep exposing them to fake government scandals to ensure a steady spin.
    Edited by 2 at 16/02/06 @ 15:43

  • Furbs #3 6 years ago

    Yeah, 5 year olds should be allowed to drink and smoke.

  • LetsGo #4 6 years ago

    Makes sense to me....

    Underage kids should NOT be allowed to go into internetcafes. Parents with home PC's prolly bloke content to get them to stop viewing stuff so why should they be able to go into a cafe and view the content anyway?

  • symmetry #5 6 years ago

    They say teenagers are banned, does that mean that it's still ok if you are 12 or under?

    What exactly is the age limit they're talking about here?

  • SeesThroughAll #6 6 years ago

    "Yeah, 5 year olds should be allowed to drink and smoke."

    If you simply forbid a kid to do something, he will WANT to do it, and manage to somehow, regardless of how much you try to prevent it. But if you make it look silly or harmful in his eyes, he won't bother. There's a difference.

  • Furbs #7 6 years ago

    So you're assuming the Chinese govt. havent tried to educate then?

  • SeesThroughAll #8 6 years ago

    We're talking about a government that makes deals with certain search engines to include censorship. I seriously doubt that they would do a better job than western governments at educating both parents and children.

    Not to say western culture on this is much better, mind you.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/06 @ 16:24

  • Moonprince #9 6 years ago

    "Harms national security"

    That laugh just woke up the office ;)

  • Furbs #10 6 years ago

    And other than the censorship thing, what are you basing this assumption on? Do you have any direct knowledge?

    Do you not think given state control of the media they wouldnt have tried to make people aware of the problems?

  • SeesThroughAll #11 6 years ago

    And other than the censorship thing, what are you basing this assumption on? Do you have any direct knowledge?

    The censorship thing is a gentle example. Tianamen is a more extreme example of the nature of the Chinese regime. Though gentler than those days, they remain an opressive government. "Opening the doors to McDonalds" does not equate democracy. Necessary but not suficient.

    Do you not think given state control of the media they wouldnt have tried to make people aware of the problems?

    History has plenty of examples of the consequences of state control over media. Very few of them being constructive influence over population.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/06 @ 16:34

  • Furbs #12 6 years ago

    I wasnt talking about those things, I was asking if you had any direct experience with the way China tries to educate its citizens. You're saying this is another example of an oppressive govt and that they did this without trying to educate.

    I'm saying its no different to pubs, and that you have no clue one way or the other if the Chinese govt had tried to educate or warn beforehand.

  • darkmistx #13 6 years ago

    I predict a people's revolution in China within the next 10 years.

  • riz23 #14 6 years ago

    It's good to see that they're cracking down on those Karaoke bars though isn't it?

  • Moonprince #15 6 years ago

    Once had the Tv on and there was a docu. on involving China. Wasnt paying attention and don't to much about what it was based on.

    The general theme was - small island near China declared independence (i think). China said no, educates the general masses into believing this island will attack any min = constant recruits into the army.

    Heh that sounds so made up and I believe everything I see reported on T.V...

    ... But there's an example of China's gov. educating the masses.

    (Obviously this small island had no intention of attacking, annnnd I can't be bothered to look up names, places, facts)

  • SeesThroughAll #16 6 years ago

    I'm saying its no different to pubs, and that you have no clue one way or the other if the Chinese govt had tried to educate or warn beforehand.

    OK, now I really understood what you meant.
    Laws are stricter in China, we can agree on that. By all means, this kind of law by itself does not make them an opressive government, but is expected in an opressive government.

    You know, there was a time in Portugal that couples were even forbidden to hold hands in public. It's ridiculous but it happened.

    It sounds reasonable to me that teenagers should be able to read email or news in internet cafes, BUT that those cafes should always have the responsibility to filter malicious content and have a carefully defined service. Fortunately, some countries already have laws for this - probably also China, but I speculate. Banning use of Internet altogether, based on age sounds like too much. Sure, 5 year olds should not go, but it is up to the internet cafes to take care of this.

    Closing access to ALL information is an extreme solution to handling malicious information.

  • LetsGo #17 6 years ago

    Would you want your 10year old surfing porn in a net cafe?

  • SeesThroughAll #18 6 years ago

    Does it sound like I do?

  • rinoaMW #19 6 years ago

    I don’t think it’s really about the content that they are accessing, more about the amount of time spent accessing.

    If you spend all day and night on a computer, its bound to lead to anxiety, stress and even anti-social behaviour. China knows it has a problem with its youth, and is using extremist measures to combat that.

    We just think it wrong because we're more liberal about these things, but anyone (eastern or western) will tell you how hard it is to stop when you are addicted to something, and this is China's equivalent of 'locking them in a room until they are cured'

    Edit: I know the article IS actually about content, but i still think this is one of the real reasons for this crack down... its just a differnet sugar coating - one tactic didn't work so lets try another, so to speak.. :)

    \hopes everyone is convinced ;)
    Edited by 2 at 16/02/06 @ 17:41

  • smoison #20 6 years ago

    "the Chinese skin cats and dogs alive "

    Its funny you mentionne that, because Europe is the Biggest market for China and THE WORLD for CAT and Dog furr.

    We buy LOADS, and we dont't even know it...

  • gaijin #21 6 years ago

    in what form does this cat and dog fur reach the market?

  • symmetry #22 6 years ago

    Heh, the Chinese probably think that banning smoking in pubs is crazy and opressive :)

  • Mr_Brown #23 6 years ago

    Yes the internet is full of harmful content...a chance to express your own opinion...

  • Metalfish #24 6 years ago

    Would this harmful content include things such as "democracy" "free speech" and "historical fact"? I'm not saying we have any of these things in the way that we are lead to believe we do, but their censorship is quite eireeily similar to that of the ole USSR in places.

    All of which conspiracy-theorist-eqse meanderings leads me to a fairly important point: We should be wary of those who seek to deny us information, for in the act they gain power over us. Knowledge is power and all that.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/06 @ 18:21

  • Rambaldi #25 6 years ago

    Before this ban comes into effect, I hope some people in China get to read this:

    GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • lucky_jim #26 6 years ago

    Any chance of the US government following suit and banning American teenagers from Xbox Live? Please?

  • wired009 #27 6 years ago

    I think they're doing the right thing. Those places are for adults not kids. The reason karaoke bars are included is because at some places you can hire female companions. It's not just singing going on in there.

  • Razz #28 6 years ago

    What do you mean some places :)

    It's most places, and in most kareoke bars you can do and buy Class A drugs wihtout a bat of an eyelid from the hosts. I totally understand the ban. The Kareoke bars in China are some of the seediest places in the world.... and I miss them already ;)

    But to put this in to perspective, after living in China for a few months I can se the logic in it. I would like to see however what age constitues being a teenager. Right up to 19? Hope not...
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/06 @ 20:15

  • Xerx3s #29 6 years ago

    "Typical in opressive governments. Punish instead of educating."

    Depends on your definition of education and right & wrong.

    Anyway, i think they should ban all teenagers from teh intarwebby, no more XBL screamer kiddies on xbl \0/!

    :D

  • monochrome_blue #30 6 years ago

    Am I the only one here who thinks that the people who are defending the chinese government should just fuck off and go live there, and enjoy a miserable life of no free press and a filtered internet?

    Get this, if people want to screw themselves over by getting addicted to games, then that's fine, that's what freedom is all about. The moment they steal from someone to fund a habit, it becomes society's problem, not before.

  • imperial_seal #31 6 years ago

    The Karaoke bars...ah...a wonderful place...

  • Fubdub #32 6 years ago

    I live in China, and I think that (for once) the Chinese government is doing the right thing. MMO's are a real problem among children here. I'm teaching myself and several of my students, all teenagers incidently, come to the school and simply fall asleep right away because they've been playing WOW all night. (And no, I'm not exaggerating) And banning them from Karaoke bars is no more restrictive than banning teenagers from pubs.
    I'm not defending what the Chinese governments is doing with censorship, I'm really annoyed that I can't use BBC news or wikipedia, but this measure isn't censorship, but rather a drastic cure for a serious illness.
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 01:22

  • DodgyPast #33 6 years ago

    @monochrome_blue

    Lol.... one of the people defending them does live there.

    I'd also agree with the point made that the chinese would think our banning smoking in pubs is over the top.... they'd probably riot if anyone tried that piece of legislation there.

  • Psi #34 6 years ago

    jesus christ is jack thompson their culture minister?

  • kangarootoo #35 6 years ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    "If you simply forbid a kid to do something, he will WANT to do it, and manage to somehow, regardless of how much you try to prevent it. But if you make it look silly or harmful in his eyes, he won't bother. There's a difference."

    It is possible to do both you know.


    @Rambaldi

    "Before this ban comes into effect, I hope some people in China get to read this:
    GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    Yeah, c'os if there has ever been a piece of government activity in China that is likely to make its citizens seriously question staying there, this has to be it right? You can take away my free expression and political forums, but I'll be damned if I'll let you take my (hyperthetical) 7 year old son's internet cafe acess.

    Cor, thank god for the free west eh? Saving us all from a world without kids looking up rude words in Google.

  • Furbs #36 6 years ago

    @monochrome_blue - what gives any of us the right to tell another country with no outright hostile intent towards us how to run themselves? Why dont you go hang out on a Neo-Con website where you can discuss the benefits of "civilising" the rest of the world in to your own ideal?

  • riz23 #37 6 years ago

    Excellent comments in the main. So much better than the usual Sony Vs MS Yawnathons. I have a cousin who teaches in rural china and she loves the place. I never realised that Karaoke bars were like how has been described by other posters here. Sounds like a modern opium den. I can't say I'm a fan of the State Capitalism as practised by China but I can imagine their frustration at seeing their youth become 'slaves' to decadent videogaming and taking drugs in a place like a Karaoke bar. Yes, these are elements of democratic laissez-faire society, but let's face it, it's not exactly something to feel proud about is it? In the West we are uncomfortable with the idea of the State controlling our lives. In China they are only beginning to see what happens when the State doesn't. And it's not always good.

  • Rambaldi #38 6 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    Not quite sure what your gripe is mate. Nowhere is perfect in the world beacuse everywhere you go (pretty much) you'll find people who are (at the same time as being full of wonderful qualities) inherently flawed. The west has it's fair share of problems, sure, but I know where I'd rather live.

  • rinoaMW #39 6 years ago

    There was a great comment about the Internet on last nights "Great British Design Quest" on the culture show; it went something like this:

    "There are lots of dubious things on the Internet, but you can't have freedom of speech without all aspects and subjects. Basically if you're against freedom of speech, then you are against the Internet"

    Kinda apt, I thought...

    Also, did anyone see that Documentary on the First Emperor of China? It was really interesting, and kinda shows how China is the way it is today....

    Again kinda apt, I thought! ^^
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 09:42

  • Rambaldi #40 6 years ago

    P.S. Communism is no bad thing (in principle). It sure beats Capitalism in terms of the damage it does to the environment, developing countries and the natural greed and materialsitic values it instills. The unfortunate thing is (as is again illustrated by China at the moment) that it historicaly goes hand in hand with dictatoriships.

    Just think about it: TRUE democratic communism. A proper hippie culture!
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 09:46

  • PearOfAnguish #41 6 years ago

    Do you not think given state control of the media they wouldnt have tried to make people aware of the problems?

    I've got no evidence, but it wouldn't surprise me to find that people don't actually listen that much to what the media tells them. They must be aware of how oppressive their Government seems in comparison to other countries so they may well just ignore everything they're told. Especially if it's teenagers we're talking about, who are naturally rebellious the world over. Again, I've got no proof, it's just a guess.

    If the Chinese government really do have a massive widespread problem on their hands then it might be the result of something else that is wrong in their culture. Cause and effect...

    P.S. Communism is no bad thing (in principle).

    And there I was thinking I'd made it to the end of the comments without anyone mentioning how communism is good in theory.


    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 10:12

  • Furbs #42 6 years ago

    Actually, if you speak to Razz, he'll tell you the opposite - most people just think thats the way the world is.

  • Razz #43 6 years ago

    Eh?

  • Furbs #44 6 years ago

    I remember you saying something along those lines in the forum mate. When we were talking about you getting carted off for "re-educating" :p

  • kangarootoo #45 6 years ago

    @Rambaldi

    I was making a silly joke about your comment. I was just suggesting that if anyone had reasons not to live in China, this latest bit of law is probably right down the bottom of their list. I just found your "GET THE FUCK OUT" comment funny in that context, like only now after this change in law might China be a difficult place for some people to live.

    I was just having a joke, didn't mean it to sound as ratty as it did, sorry about that.

    My first comment of the day is often a bit arsey, especially if I am trying to quick so I can get back to work.

    "Just think about it: TRUE democratic communism. A proper hippie culture!"

    I'm totally with you on that one. Buts its the "in principle" bit makes it all fall apart. The vast majority of human beings are capatalist at heart, its in our genes to be that way. On a small scale a community based society can work, because everyone involved really believes and feels it. But on a country wide scale, there are simply too many people who are quite naturally looking after number 1. Hence, every communist state ends up being a controlled state ruled by a few "representatives" instead of the ideal that it should be.

  • Razz #46 6 years ago

    Furbs: That's not what I meant mate, I wasn't sure what your initial comment was in response too.

  • Furbs #47 6 years ago

    Oh right! It was in response to this comment -
    "They must be aware of how oppressive their Government seems in comparison to other countries".

  • Rambaldi #48 6 years ago

    It's nice to know that underneath our nerdy gaming exteriors, we're a bunch of peace loving hippies:) And to think I've played so much GTA....

  • Madder-Max #49 6 years ago

    They'll be shooting teenager s next........oh. They already did that at Tiannamon square....

  • Stickman #50 6 years ago

    "They'll be shooting teenager s next........oh. They already did that at Tiannamon square...."

    YEAH! Fuckin' commie-pinko bastards....

  • kangarootoo #51 6 years ago

    @Madder Max

    Very clever. Just sort a few jokes about Germans and towels and you will have a bright future as a Butlins comic ahead of you.

  • Madder-Max #52 6 years ago

    I hardly think that killing teenagers in 1989 is a subject for comedy.

  • Stickman #53 6 years ago

    What do you call a student who's been shot for being pro-democracy?

    THIS ANSWER HAS BEEN REMOVED, RETURN TO YOUR FACTORIES.

    I dunno...

  • Xerx3s #54 6 years ago

    "Am I the only one here who thinks that the people who are defending the chinese government should just fuck off and go live there, and enjoy a miserable life of no free press and a filtered internet?

    Get this, if people want to screw themselves over by getting addicted to games, then that's fine, that's what freedom is all about. The moment they steal from someone to fund a habit, it becomes society's problem, not before."

    Clearly you do not understand the concept of freedom yourself. It also means that ppl have the right to have diffrent oppinions from yours and think in less black/white thoughts. So by your standards, if anyone should 'fuck off', it would be you. :\

  • kangarootoo #55 6 years ago

    "I hardly think that killing teenagers in 1989 is a subject for comedy"

    Thats my point. I personally don't think anti-german jokes are a good subject for comedy either (though I'm not saying the two are on a par by any means).

    I was making reference to another subject that I find distateful as a source of comedy material.
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 14:12

  • kangarootoo #56 6 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    I agree (though not quite as angrily). Saying "if you can't see that China's restriction of free speech is wrong, then you should just shut up" is a great example of irony. If I had a little book to note these things down in, that would be straight in there :)

    On a serious note, discussion is always a good thing. It is what freedom is based on.

    What happens monochrome_blue, if one day the people in charge of only allowing people to say good things, suddenly discover they were wrong. No one was allowed to object, so they never heard the other side of the argument. With the best will in the world, people still fuck things up. Plato was big on philosopher kings, but he admitted it was only a nice idea and wouldn't actually work, because no-one is omnipident or infallible.

  • Rambaldi #57 6 years ago

    Having you been smoking that funny stuff again?

  • kangarootoo #58 6 years ago

    "Having you been smoking that funny stuff again?"

    What, clowns?

    Why do you say that? I thought I was making perfect (if rather longwinded) sense.
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/06 @ 15:39

  • kangarootoo #59 6 years ago

    @Madder Max

    Ah nuts, I've done it again. I thought you were making a joke about Tiannamon square, when in fact it was more a sideways glance condemnation. Sorry about that.

    Rambaldi, clearly you were right. My head isn't screwed on right today :)

  • Rambaldi #60 6 years ago

    It's OK, I'll kiss it better again

    /puckers up lips with a slightly repulsed look on face ;-p