Move to protect children from misusing internet

A boy who was addicted to the internet, has his brain scanned for research purposes at Daxing Internet Addiction Treatment Center in Beijing Feb 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL recently released a draft regulation on protecting juveniles who use the internet. The draft, released to seek public opinions, prohibits the use of force or abuse to lessen teenagers' obsession with the internet. Southern Metropolis Daily said on Monday:

The new draft regulation on protecting juveniles using the internet came at a time when a variety of controversial, sometimes violent countermeasures such as electric shocks treatment are being used by some so-called experts to "cure" teenagers' addiction to the internet. What is more worrying is that these approaches are endorsed by some parents, who might seek to bypass the restrictions even after the law is enacted.

Admittedly, a great number of underage students in the country have problems with the use of the internet－in most cases they are obsessed with online games and other time-killing content.

Many parents in the West provide needed guidance on the appropriate time spent on the internet and the choice of content for their children. Such an approach can help youngsters to properly use the internet without being led astray in the virtual community.

Chinese students, including those given easy access to the internet, often lack the luxury of parental guidance. While in school, they are simply forbidden to use computers and smartphones. The lack of communication and guidance could put students in an awkward position, adding to the possibility of their misuse of the internet.

Families and schools, as the new draft stipulates, are obliged to make sure teenagers do not overstep the boundaries in cyberspace and ideally nip any internet addiction in the bud. That requires a change in their exam-oriented mentality. Focusing only on good grades is not enough to instill in them the right approach to the internet, and leaving the "internet addicts" in the wrong hands would be even more irresponsible.