International perspective: Many countries have recruited minors to get rid of Internet addiction

Source: People's Daily

At present, the phenomenon of minors addicted to online games has received more and more attention from various countries. Some countries have actively mobilized the forces of families, schools and society to help minors develop more active and healthy habits of using electronic products and reduce their dependence on online games through measures such as campus education, strengthening popular science, and building technological protection barriers.

Singapore --

Attach importance to popular science education and support families to play a key role

In order to better prevent teens from becoming addicted to the Internet, the Singapore government supports family education to play a key role. The National Addiction Treatment Service, a subsidiary of the Singapore Institute of Mental Health, has specially printed a guidebook to help parents better understand the reasons why adolescents like online games, guide parents to identify online game addiction in a timely manner, and help children effectively manage their time online. The guidebook also recommends that parents set a good example in controlling the time spent using electronic products, accompany their children to active and healthy social activities, and encourage children to develop more interests.

In terms of interventional treatment, the National Addiction Treatment Service has been established in Singapore, and specialized clinics have been set up for adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, social workers, etc., provides comprehensive treatment services such as counseling and correction for adolescents addicted to online games. In addition, the service provides training for adolescents in life skills, such as life skills, to help them reintegrate into their families and society.

The Singapore government also regularly organizes the "National Addiction Awareness Day" to guide the general public to correctly understand the addiction of online games and understand its impact on people's physiology, psychology and emotions. The National Addiction Treatment Service also conducts lectures in the community, etc., and cooperates with the education department to provide relevant training for school counsellors to help young people improve their awareness of online game addiction and thus control their time online.

Some social organizations also play an active role. Based in the community, the Singapore Care Home Addiction Rehabilitation and Education Centre provides services such as helpline consultation, as well as courses such as painting and yoga to help addicts develop healthier hobbies.

France -

Implement game ratings and establish multiple firewall mechanisms

According to a survey released by France's National Commission for Information and Freedom last February, more than half of teenagers play video games at least once a day, with action, sports and adventure themes being the most popular.

France classifies all kinds of game software by age, using the PEGI (Pan-European Game Information Organization) age rating system. All video games must be marked with PEGI and the recommended age group must be indicated: 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18 years old. At the same time, it is necessary to explain the content of the game with pictures and text to ensure that the game type is suitable for users of that age group.

The education department and relevant associations also regularly hold online surfing seminars to explain the dangers of game addiction to young people through specific cases. The French association "e-Children" is one of them. The Association provides free home network management software to schools and parents, sets up a counselling hotline, provides practical advice and psychological assistance, and helps schools and parents to intervene and protect adolescents online. Schools in France also set up special cyber security courses to educate students on internet civilization and guide them to form healthy Internet habits.

The French government also supports network operators to establish multiple firewall mechanisms to strengthen the supervision and management of the online environment for minors. French telecom operator Orange has launched a "parental control terminal" that can both block bad pages and limit children's time online.

Since 2005, France has set up addiction care, support and prevention centers throughout the country to provide professional counseling and assistance for Internet addicts, and to help minors break away from the game world and return to a healthy life through psychological therapy, outdoor activities and other means.

UAE -

Strengthen content supervision and limit online game time

Since 2018, the relevant authorities in the UAE have begun to investigate the content of major game websites and related applications, and report the results of the investigation to the procuratorate. At the same time, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has worked with telecommunications companies and Internet service providers to block and control a number of smartphone applications and violent game websites.

The UAE also categorizes online game content, etc. through rating symbols. Rashid Naymi, executive director of media affairs at the National Media Council, said the system could help teens choose online content that suits them and reduce the impact of age-inappropriate online games. Some local experts believe that compared with the complete ban on online games, it is more effective to limit the time of online games for young people and ensure that the content of games is educational and interactive.

The UAE National Rehabilitation Centre works with schools to implement the School Prevention and Peer Education Program, which aims to help students develop positive behaviors and social habits and reduce their dependence on online games by conducting peer education on campus and harnessing the power of peer-to-peer assistance. In 2020, the National Rehabilitation Centre opened a specialized clinic in Abu Dhabi to provide specialized treatment to online game addicts, including teenagers.

The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority calls on parents to spend more time with and protect their children, strengthen communication with their children, and avoid their addiction to online games. The department also encourages parents to report online games that have a negative impact on teens. Hanadi Saleh Yafi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Children's Safety Campaign in Sharjah, pointed out that parents have an important responsibility to protect their children from online games. (Reporters Liu Hui, Liu Lingling, Shen Xiaoxiao)

(Source: People's Daily)