The detrimental effects of gaming addiction, especially among young children, are widely recognized. A recent incident in China has brought this issue to the forefront, involving a 13-year-old girl whose unchecked gaming habits led to devastating consequences.
Located in Henan province, China, the incident unfolded unbeknownst to the girl’s family. She came across a debit card at home and linked it to her smartphone, enabling payments for mobile games, according to 河南广播电视台民生频道 on DouYin.
Moreover, she knew the password, which her mother had shared as a precautionary measure in case she required money during their absence.
The situation came to light when one of the girl’s teachers noticed her excessive phone usage and suspected an addiction to online pay-to-play games. The teacher promptly informed the girl’s mother, surnamed Wang, about her concerns.
Wang decided to check her bank balance and was shocked to discover a mere 0.5 yuan (equivalent to S$0.095) in her account. In a video that has since gone viral, she presented the bank statements, documenting each transaction made.
The girl eventually confessed to spending 120,000 yuan (S$22,750) on game purchases and an additional 210,000 yuan (S$39,813) on in-game items after being confronted.
She had also spent 100,000 yuan (S$18,958) to buy games for at least ten of her classmates. The girl had intentionally deleted all transaction records from her phone, which kept her mother unaware of the situation until the teacher’s call.
The girl explained that she felt frightened due to her classmates’ persistent requests for games. However, she was too afraid to seek help from her teachers, fearing her parents’ anger and disappointment.
This incident has gained significant attention across China, leading to heated debates among netizens. Some argue that the girl, at her age, should have understood the consequences and immorality of her actions. On the other hand, many place the blame on the parents, raising questions about their supervision and guidance.
It serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of excessive gaming and the need for parents, educators, and society as a whole to address the issue of gaming addiction among children. By fostering awareness, open communication, and responsible usage of technology, we can strive to protect young minds from falling into such harmful habits.