Online gaming has emerged as a rapidly growing cultural service on the Internet, offering positive aspects but also presenting numerous negative impacts, especially among the youth, leading to social concerns. Although relevant government agencies have shown proactive interest, the management of this activity remains inadequate and has not kept pace with the actual developments. After several discussions, authorities have yet to find fundamental and coordinated solutions.
To Ban or Not to Ban?
It is undeniable that online gaming brings positive aspects, such as entertainment for players and new business opportunities for service providers. However, there are numerous issues surrounding online gaming that warrant discussion.
At a recent roundtable discussion on online gaming, Mr. Vu Xuan Thanh, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Culture and Information, stated, “The biggest harm is when a child becomes addicted to gaming, neglecting their studies and ignoring parental advice, finding ways to bypass parental controls to spend money on overnight gaming sessions, day after day.”
Common points emerged from various opinions: if one spends too much time and money on online gaming, it can significantly affect their health. However, since this is a legitimate form of entertainment, rather than discussing whether to ban online gaming, the focus should be on determining the extent to which online gaming can develop…
Is Limiting the Number of Games a Good Solution?
On December 20, another meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City regarding online gaming. Representatives from the Ministry, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Postal and Telecommunications, various ISPs, and online gaming service providers attended.
In light of the rapid growth of online gaming, Le Manh Ha, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Postal and Telecommunications, expressed concerns about the quality of bandwidth. He argued that online gaming consumes excessive bandwidth, affecting Internet quality. If users complain about service quality, the responsibility falls on the Department and the Ministry. Therefore, he is considering limiting the development of online games, possibly restricting it to just 5 or 10 operable games. Le Thi Ngoc Mo, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department, also agreed with this viewpoint.
However, this proposal has not found support among businesses. Truong Hoai Truong, Director of the Regional Computing and Data Transmission Center 2 (VDC2), remarked, “The quality of the Internet is not caused by online gaming.” Saigon Postel also voiced, “There is no reason to impose restrictions on online gaming since games already have their quotas. The profits from online gaming will provide opportunities for businesses to invest more in service quality; this is an opportunity, not a risk… The development of online gaming is a driving force for companies to improve quality.“…
In light of the resolute and valid opinions from businesses, both the Ministry and the Department agreed to postpone any restrictions on the number of online games.
Managing social issues is challenging, but managing virtual social issues is even more complex. Whether to ban or limit the number of online games is likely not an effective management solution. The key lies in promoting and educating users about responsible usage. This is the long-term and effective solution that will help guide online gaming towards its positive potential.
