CHINA: It is Zhang Yuchen's last summer break before high school, but events have taken an unwelcome turn - the 14-year-old's game time has been decimated as China's tech firms try to dispel accusations that they are selling"spiritual opium" to the country's youth.
Gaming appears to be the latest target for regulators who have already strafed mega-apps providing ride-hailing, personal finance and online learning, as the Communist Party refines the type of capitalism it wants for society. Minors complain that the measures are too sweeping, affecting even teens who have finished their university entrance exams and just want to relax.
Others have circumvented the policy altogether, by borrowing an adult's account or using their parents' mobile phones. The impact on Tencent for now will be"minimal", given that children under 16 contribute around three percent of gross billings, said Michael Norris, research and strategy manager at consulting firm AgencyChina.