Tencent Rolls Out AI-Powered Gaming Controls for Minors

With schools closing for winter vacation, Chinese tech giant Tencent has announced tougher gaming restrictions for players under 18 - alongside some high-tech help for parents.

The New Rules:

From February 5 to March 5, minor gamers get just one hour per day (8-9 PM) on weekends and holidays. That adds up to only 15 hours total across the entire break. Gone are the marathon gaming sessions many kids might have planned.

But Tencent isn't just saying "no" - they're bringing artificial intelligence into the parenting toolkit.

Meet Your New AI Parenting Assistant:

The company's "Growth Guardianship Platform" is testing three smart features:

• Weekly Gaming Reports: Forget guessing what your child plays - AI tracks and summarizes their activity
• Instant Controls: Parents can adjust permissions remotely with a few taps
• 24/7 Advice: An always-available resource answering questions about game addiction and child development

"This shifts us from simply blocking time to providing intelligent management," explains Tencent's announcement. The AI tools aim to make supervision easier while educating families about healthy digital habits.

The move reflects growing concerns about youth screen time in China, where regulators have implemented increasingly strict gaming limits since 2021. By adding AI assistance, Tencent appears focused on making those rules more workable for households.

As students start their holiday, one question remains: How will young gamers adapt when their playtime gets both limited and monitored?

Key Points:

• Winter break gaming capped at 1 hour/day on select dates
• Total allowance: Just 15 hours over 29 days
• New AI tools help parents track and manage usage
• Features include activity reports and expert advice
• Represents shift from blocking to smart supervision