The 'Burning Out' Paradox: China's Controversial Method to Cure Gaming Addiction
In a perplexing yet surprisingly logical approach, China is turning to the very source of addiction – video games – to combat it. This unconventional treatment, often lasting 22 days, aims to push children through an intense gaming marathon, a strategy akin to the saying 'fight fire with fire,' or more accurately, 'cure fire with a bigger fire.' The underlying principle is to induce a state of extreme fatigue and mental exhaustion, thereby diminishing the allure of gaming.
From E-sports Dreams to a Harsh Reality Check
The brainchild behind this radical therapy is Su Chenghao, an e-sports club owner from Hebei province. Initially, his club was a training ground for aspiring professional gamers. However, Su soon realized the stark reality: discovering true talent was an elusive quest. Instead of nurturing prodigies, he witnessed countless teenagers escaping into virtual worlds, only to fall prey to gaming addiction. This disillusionment spurred him to pivot his business in 2023, launching 'anti-game' programs designed to alienate youngsters from their digital obsessions.
The Grueling Regimen: A Price for Freedom
The cost of this drastic intervention varies, with a week-long program costing several thousand yuan and the full 22-day ordeal demanding approximately 10,000 yuan (around $1400). The treatment protocol is unforgiving: children are confined to gaming from 9:00 AM to midnight, with only brief intermissions for meals and mandatory, short physical exercises. Su's theory posits that this relentless pressure transforms gaming from a recreational escape into a grueling, more arduous task than academic study. The goal is simple yet profound: to make their cherished pastime a detested chore, eradicating the desire to return to the screen.
Emotional Toll and Remarkable Success Rates
The emotional impact on the young participants is palpable. Xiao Dan, who once aspired to be an e-sports star, experienced severe muscle cramps on her first day. Another teenager dissolved into tears, pleading to go home by the second day. Despite the emotional distress, Su's club claims an impressive success rate, having 're-educated' about 4,000 children over seven years, with over 85% exhibiting significant gaming-related issues. This method, while unconventional, appears to be yielding tangible results for a substantial portion of its clientele.
A Wider Trend and the Elusive Dream of E-sports Stardom
Su's approach is not an isolated incident in China. Another club in Sichuan province offers similar programs. While this facility has hosted 700 children over eight years, only a mere three have successfully transitioned into professional e-sports teams. Hou Xu, the owner of this Sichuan club, highlights the astronomical odds, estimating a player's chance of going pro at a staggering 1 in 120,000. A primary objective of his program is to deter those with virtually no hope from pursuing this unrealistic dream. Interestingly, he also notes that some 'graduates' later ingeniously set up mock offices to feign employment, avoiding genuine work.
The E-sports Boom and the Seductive Illusion
E-sports holds a significant cultural and economic position in China, officially recognized as a sport since 2003. The nation boasts approximately 490 million users, with player earnings ranging from a respectable $2,800 per month for average players to an astonishing $140,000 for top-tier professionals, with legendary figures commanding even more through endorsements. It's no wonder many young individuals perceive e-sports as an effortless pathway to lucrative careers, transforming leisure into riches. However, the harsh truth is that competition is fierce, and many adolescents are inadvertently ensnared by addiction while chasing this illusion.
From Parental Concern to Business Opportunity
Recognizing the burgeoning problem, individuals like Su and his contemporaries have reframed gaming addiction not just as a social issue but as a viable business opportunity – one that offers a chance to earn income while simultaneously guiding individuals back to a semblance of real life. Previous attempts by Beijing to curb this phenomenon, such as imposing gaming time limits and restrictions on popular apps, proved largely ineffective, underscoring the complexity and persistence of the problem. This new, albeit controversial, therapeutic model offers a starkly different, and perhaps more impactful, solution.
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