- Story Highlights
-
- Web Curfew: South Korea considers a web curfew for the under 16 set to combat problematic gaming addiction.
Internet Gaming Addiction
To Fight Internet Addiction, South Korea Considers Shutting Web Down at Midnight for Under 16s
posted
03:11 AM EST, Fri December 03, 2010
--
filed under:
Internet Addiction
South Korea considers pulling the internet plug at midnight for computer gamers under the age of 16.
Under the terms of a proposed South Korean ‘Cinderella law’ registered internet users under the age of 16 would see their connection to online games pulled between midnight and 6 am each day.
The move comes in response to what South Korean officials say is a rising tide of internet addiction in the country. High profile cases illustrating the nation’s problems in recent months include a murder suicide by a 15 year old boy whose mother was trying to limit his game play, the death at the computer of a 32 year old man who had spent 5 continuous days online with few breaks and the infamous case of the parents whose infant died of neglect as the couple played an online parenting game at an internet café near their apartment.
Commenting on the need for the law, the minister in charge of the proposed measure, Jo Rin, said, "The thing about online games is, once you are in it, it is extremely hard to get out of it, especially if you are a young kid. A lot of kids play games all night long and have trouble studying at school and going about their normal lives during daytime. We believe the law is necessary to ensure their health and a right to sleep."
South Korea is one of the world’s most effectively connected nations, which has resulted, according to government figures, to an estimated 2 million South Koreans with internet addictions.
Sharing
Share this page on Google+, Facebook or Twitter
Email It
Send this page
Print It
Print friendly page
Subscribe
Subscribe to this topic category
