Internet social problem
I don't know if I would call this random cool stuff....it's more like uncool stuff.
In today's Star Tribune, there was an article about the "grave social problem" in China with the internet. A survey found that nearly 14% of Chinese teenagers are vunerable to internet addiction. The Chinese government has launched a nationwide campaign to stamp out this social problem that threatens the nation. They have created a law that bans youth from going into internet cafes and they have created software that will kick people off of the internet after 5 hours of game playing.
The government is helping to fund 8 inpatient rehabilitation clinics across the country. The clinics use a "tough love" approach using counseling, military discipline, drugs, hypnosis and mild electric shock. One of the clinic leaders near Shangai, Guo Tiejun believes that the root of the problem is loneliness. He states "the kids who get addicted to the internet have some kind of disability or weakness. They can't make friends, can't fulfill their desire of social communication so they go online".
Parents who force their children into the clinics are paying upwards of $1,300 per month for the treatment (about 10 times the average salary in China).
I knew that the Chinese government had been censoring the internet for some time but I think they have gone a little bit too far.
Very uncool.
Mike
Comments
Mike - Check out this blog about censorship in China. I happened to run across it while looking for something else..I knew about their censorship but didn't think it was that extreme.
http://www.pewinternet.org/pipcomments.asp
Posted by: JuliaT | February 24, 2007 09:19 PM
This sounds a lot like the Japanese phenomenon of Hikikomori: "Increasing numbers of young people in Japan are feeling alienated by modern life. Several thousand are termed "hikikomori" - recluses who never leave their room, finding entertainment only on the internet." I wonder whether there is a similar situation in China.
It is pretty bizarre to think that clinics would use military discipline and mild electric shock to cure loneliness.
Posted by: e_rose | February 25, 2007 01:38 PM
This information should be shocking, but for some reason it makes total sense to me. I think internet addiction is a very real thing. You can basically live your life on the internet and not need much else. It is almost self-sustaining. But, as far as what parents are paying to get their child treatment -- very unnecessary. I would tell them to take some parenting classes and remove the computer from the home! Make the children join a club or a sport's team. It should not be rocket science in reversing your child's behavior. They are still learning and growing and it should only take some good parenting to help change their internet addiction.
Posted by: Kate | February 25, 2007 02:11 PM
Wow
China is definitely a different world. Their government seems to be pretty heavy handed whenever something catches their eye. It makes me wonder. Since the Chinese live in such an oppressive environment, where everything is so controlled, maybe the appeal of the internet is that much greater. Its probably their only access to the rest of the world. Something that's so appealing must have a strong addictive property.
Posted by: Blender | February 25, 2007 09:35 PM