Vietnam is moving forward with a proposal to limit online gaming time for children under 16 to just 60 minutes per day. Current regulations allow users under 18 to play for up to 180 minutes daily, but the new amendment aims to reduce the total gaming time for those under 16 to just one hour. While there is significant support for this child protection measure, questions remain about how age verification and the management of overseas gaming will be handled.
According to reports from Vietnamese media, including VnExpress, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Department of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information is gathering opinions on the proposed amendment to the 2024 Decree No. 147 regarding internet management and usage. The amendment focuses on limiting online gaming time for users under 16 to a maximum of 60 minutes per day, while also introducing health impact warnings and age-based game classification standards.
The details of the amendment were discussed during a public consultation meeting held on the afternoon of July 23. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, deputy director of the Department of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information, clarified that the new regulation will not calculate gaming time separately for each game. She stated, “The new regulation means that regardless of whether children play one game or multiple games, they can only play for 60 minutes in total.”
Under the current Decree No. 147, users under 18 can play a maximum of 60 minutes per game, but their total gaming time cannot exceed 180 minutes per day. In simpler terms, while children can currently play multiple games for up to three hours a day, the proposed amendment would limit those under 16 to just one hour of gaming, regardless of the game.
Reasons for Reducing Time from Three Hours to One
The authorities believe that the existing regulations are insufficient for protecting children. Currently, game companies are required to display warnings stating that “playing for more than 180 minutes a day can have negative health effects,” but the regulations do not specify how often or for how long these warnings must be displayed. As a result, some game companies have been criticized for showing warnings for only very brief periods.
The amendment aims to address this issue by providing clearer guidelines. Authorities propose that G1 video games display health warnings every 30 minutes for at least 10 seconds, while G2 video games should display warnings for a minimum of 15 seconds. Additionally, new classification standards will categorize games by age group. In the education and technology sectors, some experts argue that a 60-minute limit is not excessive. Zhu Tuan An, a representative from the Aptech programming education system, praised the authorities for adjusting child health protection policies based on reality and public opinion.
The gaming industry generally agrees with the intent of the restrictions but calls for further adjustments. La Suan Tang, an online game publishing manager at VNG Games, noted that the 60-minute rule could reduce the negative impacts of video games while still allowing for recreational and stress-relief activities after school. However, he suggested that the daily limit could be increased to 120 minutes on weekends when academic pressures are lower. The industry has also expressed opinions on the warning display methods. VNG Games proposed that health impact warnings should apply uniformly across all game genres and suggested reducing the warning display time from the proposed 10-15 seconds to 5-7 seconds. They also believe that the content of the warning messages should be adjusted to align with the 60-minute limit.
Public Opinion: Support with Concerns About Enforcement
Public sentiment leans toward the necessity of restrictions. A survey conducted by VnExpress from July 24 to 31 indicated that, as of 11:25 a.m. on July 29, about 70% of participants believe that children's gaming time should be limited to less than 60 minutes per day. Approximately 20% prefer that families manage gaming time rather than strict government regulations.
Online reactions reflect both support and concerns. One user expressed, “I agree with the 60-minute limit, but I wonder how it will be effectively managed,” questioning whether children might switch to overseas games if the regulations only apply to domestic publishers. This highlights concerns about the scope and enforcement of the regulations.
Some voices are calling for even stricter limits. One user suggested a maximum of 30 minutes per day, while another stated, “Games should be for fun, not a waste of time competing.” Concerns about gaming addiction were also raised, with one user noting that excessive gaming can affect not only teenagers but also adults, citing examples of peers who play late into the night, impacting family life. This user emphasized that gaming time can influence personal lives and relationships.
Conversely, some argue that restrictions may only heighten children's curiosity. One user claimed that allowing children to play freely could lead to diminished interest over time, stating, “What is forbidden only makes children more curious, leading to secret gaming and potentially negative outcomes.” Questions about the effectiveness of enforcement also arose, with one user asking, “How will this be managed?” Another pointed out, “The issue is how to verify if a child is under 16. If there are time limits, children could easily lie about their age. How will this be managed?”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.