Seoul is considering an Internet curfew on youngsters to prevent gaming addiction in the online world. Under the proposed bill, those aged less than 16, would be unable to have online gaming access from midnight to 6.a.m. The bill has many loopholes, however.



The so-called Cinderella law will go into effect one year after National Assembly approval. The one-year grace period is necessary to help online gaming companies prepare for the change.



The bill is to try and cope with the growing number of Internet addicts, currently as many as 2 million. As one of the world’s most wired countries Korea has seen the death of a man in his 30s after a five-day nonstop online gaming marathon in an Internet cafe. A 15-year-old boy killed himself after killing his mother for scolding him for not shutting off the computer. A couple neglected their baby and eventually starved him to death while they were raising a virtual child online.



The bill also contains an option for parents to set the maximum number of hours youngsters can use online gaming daily. The government stresses the necessity of the law for the health of adolescents and so they get the right amount of sleep.



Many high-school students are complaining about the shutdown as they stay at school until midnight. They claim adults are exaggerating the online addiction. Even without the Internet, people find outlets for mental illnesses.



The law has loopholes. The young students could access the online gaming sites during the curfew hours by using the accounts of adults. Online gaming companies might enforce the rules loosely so as not to see their businesses contract.



Parental guidance and persuasion are more influential than the law itself. Parents should persuade children that online addiction is a dangerous distraction.