It has been reported that online game-playing for children and teenagers under 18 in China will only be allowed between 8pm and 9pm on Fridays.
Following the decision, gaming companies have been instructed to restrict children from playing outside these times.
Earlier this month, one of China's media outlets described online games as a 'spiritual opium'.
Online gaming companies are also coming under increased inspections so that it is ensured that the time restrictions are being enforced.
Prior to the newly introduced time restrictions, online gaming in China was allowed for up to 90 minutes per day, with an increase to three hours on holidays.
The move comes as concerns regarding the negative impact gaming has on young people had been increasing in the country.
A month before the new restrictions were put forward, sate-run newspaper, Economic Information Daily, suggested that teenagers have become addicted to online gaming and raised concerns regarding the negative consequences this brings. Following the article's publication, some of China's biggest gaming companies experienced a rapid drop in the value of their shares.
Chinese gaming magnet Tencet announced in July that it was launching facial recognition to prevent children from playing between 22:00 and 8:00.
However, many fear that children had been using adult IDs to bypass the restrictions.
[h/t: BBC]
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