Introduction
Our topic comes from a recent news report about a suggestion made during the "Two Sessions" political meetings in China. A national deputy named Zheng Peikun, who is also a village official and a graduate student, put forward a proposal that has started a big conversation online. He suggested that game platforms should be required to shut down their servers every day from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM. His main concern is about the health and education of young people. He noticed that many teenagers stay up late playing games, which leads to problems like being too tired to focus in class, losing sleep, and experiencing anxiety. As someone who believes education changed his own life, he worries that too much gaming is a waste of valuable time.
This proposal quickly went viral on the internet, with millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes from netizens who supported the idea. While many parents agreed that such a rule would protect children, the proposal also raises important questions for us to think about.
Today, we are not just talking about gaming itself, but about the role of rules and policies in our digital lives.
Subquestions
1.
What is the main goal of this
proposal? Do you think shutting down game servers at night is a fair way to
achieve it?
2.
The deputy said the policy is
not about limiting freedom but about protecting young people. Do you agree with
this view? Why or why not?
3.
What responsibilities should
game companies have in protecting young users? Should the government step in to
enforce those responsibilities?
4.
How might teenagers react to
this policy? Would it reduce their late-night screen time, or could it lead to
other problems?
5.
How would this policy affect
different groups, such as adult gamers, parents, and the gaming industry?
Should a policy aimed at teenagers apply to everyone?
6.
Do you think the problem described in the news—teenagers staying up
late playing games—is a serious problem that needs a policy like this? Why or
why not?