Fantasy, violence, horror, gore, pornography... These are the elements contained in the plot content of many online games. Considering that minors are still immature in mind, lack judgment, and weak self-control, these elements that are used by online game companies as "selling points" are likely to become the source of imitation by minors, which will have a negative impact on the normal learning life and healthy growth of minors.
Article 75 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors provides that online game service providers shall, in accordance with relevant national provisions and standards, classify game products, make age-appropriate reminders, and take measures to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate games or game functions. Therefore, some game app stores and game operators have set up relevant reminders and age-appropriate tips for game types, scenarios, functions, etc., to provide reference and guidance for parents and children to download and play. However, the Shanghai Municipal Consumer Protection Commission has also found that the age-appropriate tips of some online games are not satisfactory, so that many parents are confused and do not know whether they are suitable for download.
The standards and practices of different app stores regarding age-appropriate tips are different
The Apple Store age-appropriate prompt is divided into four levels: "4+", "9+", "12+" and "17+", with corresponding instructions and age-appropriate prompts in a prominent position on the game download interface.
Huawei Store Age-appropriate prompts are divided into five levels: "3+", "7+", "12+", "16+", and "18+", with corresponding instructions and age-appropriate prompts in a prominent position on the game download interface.
The Xiaomi Store has age-appropriate tips on the game homepage, such as 3+, 8+, 12+, 16+, etc., but we did not find relevant specific instructions. What makes us even more puzzled is that the age-appropriate prompt of a game with horror elements is actually 3+?! The store customer service staff said that this is the game manufacturer planning to mark the settings, and the platform cannot intervene.
We also checked the vivo mall, oppo mall, TAPTAP, nine tours and other game download channels, and did not find eye-catching age-appropriate tips on the game download homepage, and some of these games have some with horror, horror, blood and other labels.
Some games can only be downloaded and installed, and the age-appropriate prompt can be seen on the launch screen.
The same game displays different age-appropriate tips in different stores
For example, a "Yuanqi Knight" game with a developer of "Chongqing Liuhua Network Technology Co., Ltd." has a version of 3.3.2, which prompts an age-appropriate level of 8+ in the Xiaomi store, but prompts 12+ in the Huawei store.
Similarly, a "Happy Match" game with a developer of "Le Element Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.", version 1.101, prompts an age-appropriate level of 8+ in the Xiaomi Store, but prompts 12+ in the Huawei Store.
Such age-appropriate tips can make parents embarrassed, whether it is suitable for 8 years old or 12 years old, do you want to download it?!
The Shanghai Municipal Consumer Protection Commission believes
How to guide minors to correctly recognize, reasonably contact, and moderately play online games is the only way to protect the healthy physical and mental growth of minors. Although the relevant anti-addiction new regulations have made corresponding regulations on the real-name registration, game time and duration of online games, the reality is that a large number of minors still use opportunities such as buying numbers, renting numbers, fraudulently using IDENTITY cards, and using parents' mobile phones to frequently contact online games, objectively resulting in a mismatch between the intended users of the game.
Therefore, game service providers should fully consider the possibility of contact with minors and the impact brought about, more reasonably perform the obligation of age-appropriate reminders, intuitively provide parents with reference standards for judgment and download, avoid minors from being exposed to inappropriate games, and build a line of defense for the protection of minors. At the same time, we also call on parents and schools to strengthen guardianship and educational guidance, each shoulder corresponding responsibilities, and jointly create a good environment for the healthy growth of minors.