Weibo interview with Tao Hongkai receives little attention, anti-internet addiction expert only answers 6 questions

November 17 news, anti-online addiction expert Tao Hongkai and Giant Interactive VP Peng Cheng took micro-interviews on Weibo. The reason was due to two days ago the professor made a bold statement criticizing Giant Interactive's new game for targeting the female market as "harmful without benefits". In his opinion, "female gamers cannot be mothers, because women bear heavy family responsibilities, and mothers have the greatest influence on children. There used to be a saying that good mothers raise good children who create a good society. We cannot imagine what kind of child a young female internet addict would become as a mother."

Once this statement was made, it immediately drew doubts from many industry insiders.

Giant Interactive Vice President Peng Cheng believed that "the high proportion of female gamers is related to the style of the game. Online games have developed to this day, with an industrial scale reaching hundreds of billions of yuan. Game products and types are very mature, and have become a very relaxed and simple form of entertainment in daily life. Online games should not refuse female gamers, and experts should not deprive female gamers of their right to play games."

Renowned financial commentator Tao Yueqing believed that "Tao Hongkai exaggerates the facts, and his approach of condemning the entire online gaming industry is too extreme."

In the afternoon micro-interview, I was surprised to find that netizens asked a total of 168 questions, out of which 56 were answered, but Professor Tao only answered six. It is unclear whether Professor Tao was at a loss for words, unfamiliar with the use of new media, or simply old and had to accept it.

The following are excerpts from the questions answered by Professor Tao:

Qiu Ye Sui Feng Wu-Kirk: Women can't play games, does this count as gender discrimination? Why do you say that?

Tao Hongkai: I have no right to interfere with anyone playing games. The key is what kind of games they are playing.

Now, millions of young players across the country are addicted to the internet, proving that harmful online games pose serious harm to youth. We firmly oppose harming any youth with harmful online games.

Ge Shan Da Ge-Er: Mr. Tao, how about electrotherapy?

Tao Hongkai: Your question proves the harm caused by harmful online games!

Qin Qin Sue Yi Shi: Do those teenagers who jumped off buildings after being treated haunt your dreams? Can you sleep at night?

Tao Hongkai: This is a hallucination caused by harmful online games! We have helped many addicted teenagers overcome their addiction, and there has never been such a situation as you mentioned. Our work has been widely recognized by society.

Old Man and the New Age of Games: Future society will be highly networked, with a large group of online entertainment enthusiasts. Everyone believes that as long as it's fun, relaxing, and enjoyable, they will participate. According to your idea, you must support the grading of online games, prohibiting those under 18, females, and elderly people from playing. Would this make most people live a tiring life, lose the joy of entertainment, and cause social instability?

Tao Hongkai: We have never opposed games outright; we only oppose games that have been proven to be harmful to youth.

Zuo Dao's Weibo: Professor Tao, what is your main source of income? Has treating internet addiction brought you profits? Are all the rumors about deaths caused by treatment false?

Tao Hongkai: My income mainly comes from investments in the U.S. I can hand over my bank account to the government or authoritative media for investigation. After returning to China, I was hired by my alma mater Central China Normal University. The only condition I proposed was not to receive a salary from my alma mater. You can verify this at Central China Normal University. I have consistently emphasized that 99% of the current nationwide internet addiction rehabilitation institutions are fraudulent, and indeed, there are cases where addicted teenagers have died. I have been urging the government to strengthen management.

People's Tragedy: Professor Tao, you oppose various online games. Before opposing them, do you try playing them first? So that your opposition is based on evidence. Chairman Mao taught us that without investigation, there is no right to speak. How did you see the recent criticism of Elsword?

Tao Hongkai: I was the chief judge of three online game evaluation meetings. We have conducted extensive research, and media across the country have reported on the harm caused by harmful online games to teenagers. This is not my personal belief; internet addiction among teenagers is a severe social problem universally acknowledged.