Blog Tough treatment for internet addicts in China
February 22nd, 2007Alkohol and drug addicts have been given a stern treatment in China. Now the turn has come to young Internet addicts. Is it just another way by the regime to limit communication on the world-wide web?
No country has gone as far as China in mounting a public crusade against Internet addiction, writes Washington Post. According to the newspaper the Chinese government now is funding eight in-patient rehabilitation clinics across the country.
One could be tempted to connect the effort to Chinas policies of censoring Internet. China is on the top of the list of countries trying to filter content on Internet. .
Internet remains a threat to the Chinese government. 132 million Chinese now have access to Internet.
It is already the second largest Internet population in the world - after USA.
The article in Washington Post is already triggering discussions among bloggers.
This isn’t something I would consider paying “about 10 times the average salary in China” to treat. I would just smack my kid in the back of the head and tell him to go outside and play basketball., writes blogger “I’ll think of something”. .
He has his own suggestion for the Chines government:
If you really want nerds to get up from the computer I have a much easier, much more effective approach for you: introduce them to some girls.
The Hub Blog asks:
Can this story be true? It’s about ‘Internet addiction’ treatment in China. It sounds more like a Soviet psychiatric hospital. It’s … just read it. Jaw-dropping incredible. …
Maybe the reason is not ideological at all, but rather commercial. Washington Post writes that most “Internet addict patients” have been forced to come by their parent, who are paying up to USD 1300 per month.
It is easy, actually. As long as there are someone willing to pay, there is also a market, even for electro shock againt Internet addiction.
