Minors are the future of the country and the hope of the nation, and how game enterprises, as the implementers of uninsured policies and the responsible persons for game content, are of great importance to better create a game environment suitable for minors. On September 20, the executive meeting of the State Council deliberated and adopted the Regulations on the Online Protection of Minors (Draft). The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to guide and support relevant enterprises to actively implement regulations, achieve compliant operations, and promote the healthy growth of minors.
In order to further understand the current implementation of game manufacturers in the protection of minors, as well as the problems still existing in the process of minors' games, the evaluation team of Consumer Daily selected 20 mobile games of different types from different manufacturers for simulation testing, and released the "20 Mobile Games Protection Evaluation Report for Minors" on October 24.
The results of the report show that in terms of the implementation of age-appropriate tips, user agreements and privacy policies, and minors' play time and consumption restrictions, the 20 tested games all comply with the existing unprotected policy. However, during the testing process, the following problems were also found: most games lacked measures to create an age-appropriate environment for minors; Half of the games lack a fast and smooth customer service portal. It is worth noting that in the real-name authentication link, the purchased QQ account can skip the real-name authentication link in the registration stage of "Honor of Kings" through the identity information of the original owner.
But at the same time, some games also performed better in the specific testing process. Taking "Egg Party" as an example, its unique "Baby Egg" mode creates a suitable game environment for minors based on strengthening their social and content protection.
Scoring results and mechanism analysis
The list of games is as follows:
1 Egg Party; 2 shell special attack team; 3 Minecraft; 4 Glory of Kings; 5 Peace Elite; 6 Voyager King Blood Route; 7 Genshin; 8 Honkai: Star Dome Railway; 9 Genki Knight; 10 defend turnips; 11 subway parkour; 12 Ola Star; 13 Plants vs Zombies 2; 14 optical gap interpretation; 15 crystal nuclei; 16 Tom Cat Parkour; 17 Chang'an Fantasy; 18 Lost Castles; 19 Never Give Up 2; 20 Legends of Odd.
The evaluation team will find problems as the final direction, and through identity information, bring into the whole process of the game from the perspective of minors of different ages. Among them, mainly focusing on real-name authentication, social protection, uninsured platforms and other issues, different games are examined from the following three major aspects: 1. Protection of minors in the registration stage; 2. Protection of minors during the play phase; 3. Protection of minors in the daily phase. Finally, the report will score and rank each game based on the performance of the simulation test, visually showing the implementation and effect of the tested subjects on the uninsured measures.
Scoring is based on the following:
1Whether the game has age-appropriate cues and places them prominently.
2. Whether the game will provide a user informed agreement and privacy policy for minors and their guardians in an easy-to-find location.
3. Whether the game has set up a real-name authentication window and whether it is classified into the anti-addiction system after successful authentication.
4. Whether the game has guardian awareness measures related to real-name authentication.
5. Whether the game provides "secondary authentication" related to real-name authentication.
6. Whether the game is played by minors in accordance with the prescribed time limit.
7. Whether the game restricts the consumption of minors in accordance with regulations.
8. Whether there are hard ad placements in the game that affect the game environment.
9. Whether there are social and content protection measures for minors in the game.
10. Whether uninsured platforms can be quickly found in the game.
11. Whether there is a convenient and smooth customer service entrance inside the game.
12. Is there a clear refund entry and guidance in the game.
The scoring results are as follows:
Scoring Analysis:
1. Aside from the common points of the 20 tested games, the first echelon of games has more unique scoring points. For example, "Egg Party" has obvious advantages in secondary authentication, social and content protection for minors, and convenient jumping on the care platform.
2. In addition to the unique advantages of the first echelon, there are only some minor problems in the game of the second echelon. For example, because "Honor of Kings" and "Peace Elite" are internal games of the QQ system, and have their own identity information database. If you encounter a purchased "reviewed" account, the real-name authentication measures of both games will all be invalidated, so the scores of the two games will be slightly lower.
3. The third-echelon games basically have one or two deductions, many of which are common problems, such as whether there is a convenient and smooth customer service entrance inside the game, which is the deduction point for all games in the third echelon.
4. The fourth-tier games performed poorly in terms of uninsured measures, and there were also problems that did not occur in the vast majority of tested games. For example, "Talking Tom Parkour" and "Plants vs. Zombies 2" deduct points for implanting hard ads.
Assessment process and key issues
1. Registration stage
1. The implementation of age-appropriate standards is strict
On December 16, 2020, the implementation draft of the group standard "Online Game Age Appropriate Tips" was released under the guidance of the Publishing Bureau of the Central Propaganda Department and approved by the Group Standardization Technical Committee of the China Audio-Visual and Digital Publishing Association. The document states that the identifiers of age-appropriate prompts are based on 3 different ages, namely 8+ in green, 12+ in blue, and 16+ in yellow. The standard clarifies the specific use cases of identifiers, that is, age-appropriate reminder signs must be placed in a prominent position on the interface of the game product.
Happily, the 20 games tested by the group all had age-appropriate tips and were prominently placed on the game's homepage.
"Minecraft" and "Voyager Blood Route" both have age-appropriate reminders in the lower right corner of the game entrance interface
2. Full coverage of user agreement and privacy policy
Since November 1, 2021, the Personal Information Protection Law has come into force. The law regulates the platform's handling of personal information based on the core principle of "notice-consent". For minors and their guardians, it is their due right to be clearly informed by the game company how the personal information of minors will be handled.
Through the evaluation, it was found that the 20 games tested will provide players with user informed agreements and privacy policies. In most cases, these terms will appear on the homepage and in login pop-ups, and a small number will appear in easily found locations inside the game.
The rules for the games Never Say Never Say 2 and Talking Tom Run are located in the settings options inside the game
3. Real-name authentication and anti-addiction system are widely accessed
With the help of the real-name information of the original owner, QQ account login to the game can bypass the real-name authentication link
For minors, real-name authentication and anti-addiction system access at the game registration stage are the most direct and effective protection methods, and are also the premise and basis for the implementation of most game uninsured measures.
On August 30, 2021, the "830 New Regulation" came out. The State Press and Publication Administration issued the Notice on Further Strictly Managing and Effectively Preventing Minors from Indulging in Online Games. Article 2 of the document emphasizes that all online games must be connected to the real-name verification system of the State Press and Publication Administration for online game addiction, all online game users must use real and valid identity information to register game accounts and log in to online games, and online game enterprises must not provide game services in any form (including tourist experience mode) to users who have not registered and logged in with their real names.
In order to effectively solve the problem of minors' addiction to games and protect the rights and interests of minors, the "830 New Regulations" requires all game enterprises to classify minors under the age of 18 into a specific anti-addiction system through real-name authentication.
The evaluation results show that 20 games have set up real-name authentication windows, and minors will also be connected to the anti-addiction system after successful authentication.
"Genshin" pops up the real-name authentication instructions when registering a new account
Reviewers found that some games went a step further than real-name authentication and added guardians' knowledge. For example, after the real-name authentication of minors in "Egg Party", the guardian's notification window will pop up.
"Egg Party" requires the contact information of parents after the minor's real-name authentication
In recent years, while the anti-addiction measures for minors have been continuously updated, the resale of "reviewed" accounts without real-name authentication has become more and more rampant. For example, QQ number sales services on Taobao. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the issues, the evaluation team contacted the merchants on Taobao with the beginning of the game, and purchased a QQ number for the test.
Stores that peddle game QQ numbers on Taobao are introducing the process of using the purchase number
Through verification, it was found that when minors log in to the game with the purchased QQ number, they can bypass the real-name authentication link through the real-name information of the original owner (adult).
The identity information of a 12-year-old minor is verified by the real-name of QQ Wallet. After verification, after the real-name authentication of QQ Wallet, minors can still use the real-name information of the original owner to bypass real-name authentication when registering the game
Taking "Honor of Kings" as an example, the evaluation team entered the identity information of the same 12-year-old minor into the purchased QQ number and the newly created QQ number (without real-name authentication through any other means of real-name authentication) through the real-name authentication of QQ Wallet, and then logged in to the game in turn.
Outside of the specified game hours, logging in to Honor of Kings with a newly created account will pop up the health system and will not be able to log in
Outside the specified game time, there is no restriction when logging in to "Honor of Kings" with the purchased account, and the login is successful
The evaluators found that the "reviewed" account had entered adult identity information through other channels before peddling, and its priority was higher than that of QQ wallet real-name authentication (equivalent to real-name authentication at the game entrance), which could directly bypass the real-name authentication link of newly registered users.
After the purchased account is verified by the minors of QQ Wallet, the real-name authentication information of an adult (the original owner) is called up through the Tencent Growth Guardian official account, forming a situation of "one number and two identities"
In addition, the evaluation team found that QQ accounts can be "number one universal". For example, with the above-mentioned "reviewed" account, you can log in to games with exclusive channels such as "Peace Elite" without hindrance.
When using the purchased account to create the initial number of "Peace Elite", the pop-up window shows that the identity information has been entered into the system, and you can directly log in without real-name authentication after confirmation
Second, the play stage
1. AI technology helps secondary authentication
Today, the real-name authentication process set up by game manufacturers at the registration stage has been relatively perfect. However, if there are rental and sales numbers, the use of parent accounts, etc., the time and consumption restrictions for protecting minors will be completely invalid.
In order to cope with the special situation in the real-name authentication link, accurate "secondary authentication" is required.
The evaluator observed that during the game, the use of AI technology made "secondary authentication" possible. In the game tested, the evaluation team found that "Egg Party" would actively intervene in the game process by means of face recognition. The player's identity information, face data, and account real name must be consistent to pass face verification, and if it cannot be verified, it will be included in the anti-addiction system.
The face recognition verification window of "Egg Party"
2. The game under test is open for play time limit
The "830 New Regulations" points out that all online game enterprises can only provide 1 hour of service to minors from 20:00 to 21:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, and may not provide online game services to minors in any form at other times.
It is gratifying to note that the 20 games currently tested have actively implemented the game time limit policy.
"Subway Surfer" popped up a forced offline window after the play time exceeded 21 pm
In addition, reviewers found that all 20 games under test were alerted before the end of the required play time.
"Crystal Nucleus" pops up a limited-time reminder above the screen at about 20:40 in the evening
3. All tested games have consumption restrictions
The Notice on Preventing Minors from Indulging in Online Games issued by the State Press and Publication Administration in 2019 stipulates that online game enterprises shall not provide game payment services for users under the age of 8, while the game payment services provided by the same online game enterprise, users over the age of 8 and under the age of 16, the single recharge amount shall not exceed 50 RMB, and the cumulative monthly recharge amount shall not exceed 200 RMB; For users over the age of 16 and under the age of 18, the single recharge amount shall not exceed 100 RMB, and the cumulative monthly recharge amount shall not exceed 400 RMB.
Judging from the evaluation results, the relevant policies of game companies have been implemented relatively well, and the 20 games tested have strictly implemented policies and restricted the consumption of minors.
"Egg Party" prompts that minors under the age of 8 are prohibited from topping up
"Optical Gap Interpretation" prompts that minors over the age of 8 and under the age of 16 are prohibited from spending more than 50 yuan at a time
4. The age-appropriate environment for minors is difficult to shape
In the process of playing, the internal environment of the game will have an impact on the concepts and behaviors of minors, and is an important part of the protection of minors. The evaluation team found that among the 20 games tested, the advertising placement problems of games such as "Talking Tom Parkour", "Plants vs. Zombies 2" and "Defend the Radish" were more prominent. It should be pointed out that the insertion of advertisements scattered on the home page of the game, the redemption of game props and other scenes will bring a certain degree of damage to the game environment suitable for minors.
Before entering the Talking Tom Run homepage, half of the screen was occupied by hard ads
In Plants vs. Zombies 2 and Defend the Turnips, you can get items for free in the form of watching ads
In addition, the vast majority of games tested did not have a separate social protection space for minors. Evaluators have seen that due to the complex age division of the playing population, the information disseminated by the chat system of some games is easy to give adverse effects to minors.
Abusive behavior by some players in Chang'an Fantasy's world chat system
Unfortunately, under the premise of full coverage of minors' real-name authentication, the vast majority of games tested have not made efforts to create an internal environment of the game. How to create a suitable environment for minors in games is still a difficult problem for game manufacturers to overcome.
On March 14, 2022, the CAC issued the Regulations on the Online Protection of Minors (Draft for Comments). Article 20 points out that important internet platform service providers with a large number of minors and significant influence among minors shall perform the provision of youth models or special areas for minors, to facilitate minors' access to in-platform products or services that are beneficial to their physical and mental health.
Since the implementation of the regulations one year ago, the social protection and juvenile content zone has gradually become the focus of some game manufacturers. In this review, the "Baby Egg" mode of "Egg Party" is somewhat representative. "Egg Party" has opened a separate content area for minors through the "Baby Egg" mode, creating a game environment suitable for minors with customized content.
After "Egg Party" turns on the "Baby Egg" mode, it will filter the content of the park and push map content that is more suitable for minors
When the "Baby Egg" mode is not enabled, the map push is displayed on the Egg Party Park Gallery page
After turning on the "Baby Egg" mode, the map push is tabbed on the "Egg Party" park veranda
The evaluation team found that in the October 12 update, "Egg Party" upgraded the "Baby Egg" mode in two aspects: refinement of the content area for minors and strengthening the social protection of minors.
After the version update, the "Baby Egg" mode of "Egg Party" subdivides the child and teenager modes under the original function of map filtering, and parents can freely choose according to the age of minors
In addition to the subdivision of the content area for minors, "Egg Party" has also begun to further explore the social protection of minors. Evaluators see that the new guardian settings window in "Baby Egg" mode provides players with buttons to disable public screen chats and strangers to team up.
Egg Party's "Baby Egg" mode guardian settings window
Through the guardian settings, the public screen chat function of "Egg Boy Party" is disabled
When a player turns on the Guardian Settings option, party invitations from non-friend players in Egg Party will not appear
In addition, "Minecraft" also launched the "Block Guardian Mode" for the characteristics of the game, building a protective wall for minors.
Minecraft's Block Guardian Mode protects minors by replacing block packs, turning off location information, and reminding you for confrontational gameplay
3. Daily stage
1. The development of the "uninsured" platform is improving "home-enterprise co-management" is within the touch of a button
Since the release of the "Convention on Self-Discipline for the Prevention of Addiction in the Online Game Industry" in 2021, game companies have paid more and more attention to the important position of parents in the protection of minors, and have begun to lay out a parental care platform. Among them, the game manufacturers have played a leading role. Among the 20 games tested, only NetEase Games' "Egg Party" and "Minecraft" placed a button on the parent care platform on the home page of the game, which can be jumped in one step.
On the left side of the homepage of "Egg Party", a parental care platform button is placed
At the top of the Minecraft homepage is a parental care platform button
Evaluators also saw that in addition to game manufacturers, other game manufacturers have also begun to focus on the construction of parental care platforms.
The guardian platform for minors on the Byte Chaoxi Lightyear website has a built-in "co-construction guardian" module to push videos about family parent-child communication
On the child care platform of the Dream World website, parents can restrict minors' accounts twice by submitting relevant materials
2. Half of the tested games lack customer service entrance, and a small number of games have smooth refund channels
Article 7 of the Law on the Online Protection of Minors (Draft for Comments) of March 14, 2022 states that providers of online products and services, personal information processors, manufacturers and sellers of smart terminal products shall accept government and social supervision, cooperate with relevant departments in carrying out supervision and inspections of online protection efforts involving minors in accordance with law, establish convenient, reasonable, and effective channels for complaints and reports, publish the channels and methods for complaints and reports in a conspicuous manner, and promptly accept and handle public complaints and reports.
Unfortunately, only 9 of the 20 games tested were able to find a prominent, fast customer service portal inside the game. The investigation found that there was no obvious customer service entrance inside games such as "Plants vs. Zombies 2", "Genki Knight", "Sea King Blood Route", "Crystal Nucleus" and "Lost Castle". The customer service entrance of games such as "Bullet Case Special Attack Team", "Chang'an Fantasy", "Talking Tom Parkour", "Metro Parkour", "Ola Star" and "The Legend of Odd" cannot jump to online customer service, and the main function is problem feedback.
The problem feedback window inside the "Aura Star" game, online customer service needs to go to the game center of the out-of-game channel server to find
Feedback window inside the game of "Talking Tom Parkour", players need to leave contact information to wait for a reply
On the other hand, as mentioned above, the 20 games tested have effectively curbed the excessive consumption of minors' accounts. However, for the consumption of minors who bypass the certification link, the tested games still lack effective countermeasures. Therefore, smooth consumption refund channels are indispensable.
The evaluation results show that only a small number of the 20 games under test have obvious refund channels inside. Taking "Egg Party" as an example, its internal "customer service center" is preceded by a hot spot of "minor-related instructions", where users can view the rules of the underage game and advanced service guidelines.
"Egg Party" has built-in customer service to explain the consumption problems of minors and refund guidelines
In addition, the evaluator found that when it comes to the issue of minors' refunds, the customer service of "Egg Party" will guide users to use the "NetEase Parental Care Platform" to apply for refunds, and will also provide manual online customer service for users in need.
"Egg Party" built-in refund process for minors explains how to connect with customer service
"Egg Party" built-in online customer service window for minor refund problems
In recent years, various measures around strengthening the protection of minors have been frequently paid attention to and practiced in more and more consumer fields, among which the game industry, as one of the important segments, has always focused on the eyes inside and outside the industry. On August 30, 2021, the Notice on Further Strictly Managing and Effectively Preventing Minors' Addiction to Online Games, which was called "the strictest new rules in history" by netizens, was released. There are strict limits on the weekly playtime of minors in the document. Since the implementation of the new regulations, the problem of minors addicted to games has been initially solved. On September 20, the executive meeting of the State Council deliberated and adopted the Regulations on the Online Protection of Minors (Draft). The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to guide and support relevant enterprises to actively implement regulations, achieve compliant operations, and promote the healthy growth of minors. According to the "Young Chinese Gamers" report released by Niko Partners, the number of underage players in China has decreased by 39 million in 2022.
In the evaluation of the implementation of the protection of minors in 20 mobile games, the Consumer Daily concluded that major manufacturers are actively responding to the uninsured policy, but they still need to be strengthened in terms of creating a game-age environment and achieving convenient and smooth customer service communication. Minors are the future of the motherland, and the protection of minors still requires the continued concerted efforts of society, industry and family.
Yangtze Evening News/Purple Cow News reporter Jiang Tiansheng
Proofreading by Xu Heng