Restricting online gaming would further stifle children’s interest in STEM subjects, according to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
The warning comes days after the Chinese government banned online gamers under the age of 18 from playing on weekdays, imposing a three-hour limit on weekends and bank holidays, as well as temporarily suspending approval for all new online games.
The regulation was imposed following concerns of rising rates of gaming addiction, known professionally as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), which last year was found to affect almost one in five (17%) Chinese adolescents.
However, BCS said that the gaming limit introduced by Chinese authorities “risks harming children’s education and should not be introduced in the UK”, due to fears that it could further stifle young children’s development of STEM skills. The ban could also lead to fewer children wanting to pursue a career in video game development, an industry which is now estimated to be worth £7 billion in sales for the UK alone.
Earlier this year, it was found that the number of students taking part in GCSE IT courses had declined by 40% in the last six years, prompting concerns that UK businesses may find it increasingly difficult to source local talent over the coming years.
Heavily restricting access to online gaming could escalate this issue further, as performing tasks in Minecraft or Roblox encourage children’s interest in STEM subjects, according to Professor Andy Phippen, digital rights specialist and fellow of BCS. His warning comes after members of the UK government previously considered restricting children’s access to social media.
“It just seems such an odd thing to do and very unworkable,” he said. “While we are a little way off this in the UK, [former Health Secretary] Matt Hancock previously said social media companies should regulate the amount of time children spend on these platforms. It is, therefore, not such a massive step to see government-mandated screen time here in the UK which makes me concerned.”
China isn’t the only country restricting online gaming for children and teenagers. Since 2011, South Koreans under the age of 16 have been banned from gaming between midnight and 6 am. However, last month it was announced that the regulation, known as the Cinderella Law, will be abolished by the end of the year.
