A Chinese state media outlet recently reported that video games are the equivalent of ‘electronic drugs’. Following the publication of one of the wackiest statements of the year, two of the country’s major online gaming companies saw their shares drop considerably.
“Tencent and NetEase shares fell more than 10% in early Hong Kong trade before regaining some of those losses,” the BBC reports.
Not the drugs we grew up with, right Tencent?
According to the Economic Information Daily (which is a state-run publication), many teenagers have become increasingly addicted to video games, with online gaming getting a specific mention. The report continues by detailing that this pass-time has a negative effect on these addicted teens.
Even worse, the article specifically mentions Tencent’s wildly popular online mobile game Honor of Kings — and details that students apparently play the game for up to 8 hours a day. Those are rookie numbers… Gotta get those numbers up.
“No industry, no sport, can be allowed to develop in a way that will destroy a generation…” the report reads.
Following the scathing article, Tencent said that it is working to introduce features aimed at limiting children’s access to its games, starting with Honor of Kings. In line with China’s increasingly stern gaming anti-addiction policies, Tencent also recently developed software that uses facial recognition to prevent minors from gaming after 10pm. The company’s share price strengthened once more after the Economic Information Daily deleted the article from its WeChat channel.
