As technology is on the rise every day, children around the globe are getting addicted to it, as they play video games and use social media chronically.
Because of this, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said that he will introduce a bill that will ban manipulative online game features on Wednesday.
This legislation will be directed to games who have features who make its users to pay money to ‘’level-up’’ or receive different kinds of rewards.
Hawley issued a statement in which he said:
“Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids’ attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits. No matter this business model’s advantages to the tech industry, one thing is clear: there is no excuse for exploiting children through such practices.’’
The legislation will be introtuced by Hawley in the days following.
According to The Hill, the Entertainment Software Association on Wednesday put out a statement rejecting the Senator’s proposal. The CEO of the video game industry trade group, Stanley Pierre-Louis, said that some countries like Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK determined that loot boxes do not constitute gambling.
Pierre issued a statement in which he said:
“We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents. Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy to use parental controls.’’
This issue reached some level of agreement in both Senate and House, both by the Democrats and Republicans.
Halwey also used this problem to create an image of a tech-critic as he criticized technological giants and their massive leaps on the market, as well as the exploitation of customers, especially children. Last week, at a Hoover institution event he criticized tech companies for encouraging users to become addicted to their products.
“Users attention is bought by the tech giants and then immediately sold to advertisers, for the highest price of course. Social media only works as a business model if it consumes users time and attention day after day after day,’’ Halwey said.
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